Arsenal move ahead as North London battle shifts

Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié in a transfer that would sting Tottenham for the second time this window. Sources in England and Germany say the Ecuador international has told Leverkusen he’s ready to move, and that his preference is the Emirates. The price point is clear: his contract contains a €60 million clause, roughly £52 million, and talks are now circling how to hit that figure without wrecking a club’s summer budget.

Tottenham were in front not long ago. Their pitch featured an initial loan with an obligation to buy around €60m, a structure designed to protect cash flow. Personal terms were discussed, even described as “moving” by people close to the negotiation. Then Arsenal stepped in. As David Ornstein first flagged, Arsenal are working to sign the defender, and momentum has shifted since.

For Arsenal, this would be a sequel. They already swiped Eberechi Eze from under Spurs’ nose earlier in the window for around £67.5m, turning a rival’s long pursuit into their own headline signing. Missing one target annoys fans; missing two reshapes a window. Spurs know that feeling all too well right now.

Leverkusen, treble candidates for much of last season under Xabi Alonso and runaway Bundesliga champions, have braced for summer bids across the squad. Hincapié, 23, is among the most sought-after because he ticks the hardest box in the market: a left-footed defender who’s quick enough to defend space and tidy enough to play through pressure. He can operate at left centre-back or as a tucked-in full-back when the build-up forms a back three.

Any deal will likely come down to structure. Leverkusen prefer cash-heavy offers and have zero interest in pure loans. The player is contracted to 2029, so they are not under pressure to sell on terms they don’t like. Arsenal, conscious of Premier League profitability and sustainability rules, are exploring payment schedules and potential outgoing deals to make the numbers work. Spurs’ loan-with-obligation idea looked clever on paper, but Leverkusen have been cool on that approach.

Where did this surge for Hincapié come from? Arsenal’s recruitment team have quietly tracked him for more than a year. Chelsea scouted him too. The appeal is obvious: he’s comfortable on the ball, slides across to cover wide spaces, and has the burst to handle one-on-ones when pressed high. He played a big role in Leverkusen’s unbeaten domestic run in 2023/24, switching between left-back and the left side of a back three depending on Alonso’s plan.

Arsenal’s depth chart explains the timing. William Saliba and Gabriel are locked in as the starting pair, with Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu offering tactical flexibility across both flanks. But Jakub Kiwior has drawn interest, with Porto exploring a loan-to-buy proposal worth north of €20m. If Kiwior goes, the squad loses its only natural left-sided centre-back cover for Gabriel. That’s exactly the role Hincapié would fill in the short term—then push for starts as the schedule loads up.

There’s also the shape question. Mikel Arteta often builds with three at the back in possession, tucking a full-back inside. Hincapié fits that pattern, comfortable stepping into midfield to recycle play or driving forward when the lane opens. He’s not just a stopper; he helps control games. At 23, he also carries resale value, which matters when you’re layering big spend after big spend.

Spurs’ angle is different but just as clear. Ange Postecoglou wants another left-sided option to balance Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, reduce the load across four competitions, and protect against injuries that derailed last autumn. Radu Drăgușin arrived in January and bedded in well, but Spurs still lack a second natural left-footer who can defend high and wide. Hincapié was the A-list profile for that gap.

If they miss out, Tottenham will pivot. The club have previously tracked centre-backs who can play on the left, including Murillo at Nottingham Forest and Facundo Medina at Lens, while also keeping tabs on the broader market should a top-tier opportunity shake loose late in the window. In attack—still a live brief after losing Eze to Arsenal—they’ve sounded out ambitious alternatives like Christopher Nkunku, but Chelsea are reluctant to strengthen a direct rival. Expect parallel work on both fronts as August tightens.

Money is the subtext to everything. Arsenal’s window has already carried heavy numbers, with big outlays reported on Viktor Gyökeres and Martin Zubimendi among a flurry of arrivals. To add another £50m-plus defender, they’ll likely push through exits. Kiwior is one lever; academy sales and fringe departures are another, because they book quick profits. None of this means they won’t get Hincapié—it just explains why the pace of the deal may ebb and flow while they tidy the balance sheet.

What does Hincapié bring in real terms? He’s left-footed, aggressive in duels, and reads diagonal runs well. He’s comfortable sliding into space when his winger vacates, which is key in a 4-3-3 when the full-back inverts. He’s also used to high-risk setups after two seasons in Alonso’s high-control, high-line system. There’s room to grow—he can overcommit in wide areas—but coaches value defenders who recover fast and learn on the job at elite tempo. He already has well over 100 senior games behind him across Ecuador, Argentina, and Germany, plus regular caps for Ecuador since his teenage years.

The release clause is central to the timeline. Some in Germany say it lands around €60m, others suggest the number is target-based. Either way, Leverkusen are pointing bidders to that level. Arsenal are trying to negotiate below it or stagger the payments with add-ons. Tottenham were ready to match it over time, hence the obligation structure. The club that best aligns with Leverkusen’s cash preferences—without blowing up its PSR position—wins.

There’s also the optics. If Arsenal pull this off, it reinforces a pattern this summer: when both North London clubs want the same player, Arsenal’s current sporting project and Champions League platform are carrying the final 10%. Spurs are building something interesting under Postecoglou, and the football is brave. But players at the top end still weigh Champions League football, a recent title race, and the chance to compete deep into spring. That’s the edge right now.

The player’s stance matters too. People close to the talks say he’s open to Tottenham but leaning Arsenal if both clubs meet Leverkusen’s conditions. Personal terms are not expected to be a problem for either side. The sticking point is the fee and how quickly it lands in Germany’s account. That’s why Arsenal’s outgoing activity—loans with obligations, permanent sales, and a bit of smart accounting—could be the final piece.

One more wrinkle: squad chemistry. Arsenal like that Hincapié can cover both Gabriel’s role and the left-back lane, which could free Timber and Tomiyasu to rotate on the right or tuck in when Arteta flips the build. It also offers an in-game switch to a back three without changing personnel. For coaches, that’s gold. For a player, it’s minutes.

So what happens next? Expect Leverkusen to keep pressing for clarity, and to shut the door on extended haggling if it drags late into the window. Arsenal are pushing to shape an offer that meets the clause in spirit, if not in a single hit. Spurs remain in contact and won’t walk away until a signature is on paper. The finish line is in sight; it just comes down to who blinks on structure.

If the needle moves further toward North London’s red half, it will be another reminder of how thin the margins are at the top end of the Premier League market. One call from a player. One tweak to a payment schedule. And a summer plan changes.

Why Hincapié fits Arsenal—and what it means for Spurs

From a pure football angle, Piero Hincapie neatly solves Arsenal’s left-sided depth problem without forcing a tactical rethink. He’s fast enough to defend huge spaces when Arsenal squeeze the pitch, and secure enough in possession to handle the first pass under pressure. He won’t displace Gabriel immediately, but he can rotate across three roles and keep the standards high when the fixtures pile up.

For Spurs, the miss would be painful but not fatal. Van de Ven and Romero are a strong base, Drăgușin has settled, and the club can still find a left-footer with recovery pace—even if the profile isn’t as polished. The real challenge is psychological after losing Eze to Arsenal earlier in the summer. Getting their next target—whether in defence or attack—over the line quickly would steady the narrative and the dressing room.

In the end, Leverkusen hold the key: a long contract, a clear price, and a player entering his prime. The suitors are known, the numbers are clear, and the clock is ticking. All that’s left is a decision—and the cheque that follows it.