Barcelona weigh up transfer move for Arsenal player

FC Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Piero Hincapie, before the defender has even had the chance to join Arsenal permanently.

Simon Jones reports for the Daily Mail that FC Barcelona are weighing up an approach for Piero Hincapie. Sporting director Deco recognises that it won’t be an easy deal to do, but he’s showing a willingness to test the water.

Jones adds that Hincapie is believed to be happy at Arsenal, and the Gunners’ response to Barcelona should give a clearer indication of their plans for the future with the defender.

Hincapie is technically still a Bayer Leverkusen player, only on loan with Arsenal. The Gunners have a purchase option in his contract, but they haven’t officially activated it yet. But that’s a real technicality.

The expectation has always been that the deal would eventually turn permanent. Both Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen wanted a permanent transfer, they just wanted to delay the transactions so they’d hit the financial accounts a year later.

To make sure neither party would pull out, Arsenal and Leverkusen included clauses in the contract allowing either club to trigger the purchase option.

So even if Arsenal decided they didn’t want to sign Hincapie (which seems very unlikely at this stage), Leverkusen could still force them to do so. The same applies the other way around, with Leverkusen having no choice but to sell if Arsenal decide to trigger the clause.

But the fact Hincapie is only technically joining this summer will be a factor in any Barcelona pursuit of the player. Given Arsenal will have paid £45m to sign the defender, it would be madness to sell him for any less than that just days into his fresh five-year contract.

So if Arsenal take the improbable decision to sell immediately, Barcelona will have to be offering more than £45m.

• Bayern Munich deliver Arsenal warning ahead of Champions League clash
  Bayern Munich delivered an emphatic response to two successive draws just days before Arsenal arrive at the Allianz Arena, sweeping aside RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
• Lille blow chance to top Ligue 1 after Arsenal defeat
  Lille had the chance to answer their Arsenal defeat and move top of Ligue 1, but another difficult night left fresh questions over their form.
• Arsenal summer sale hits 5 g/a in 7 games
  Gabriel Jesus has continued his strong start to life with Barcelona following the international break, scoring or assisting three goals in three games.
• Arsenal monitor Chelsea 20yo they want to keep
  Arsenal are monitoring Chelsea defender Josh Acheampong with a view to signing him, though the Blues are keen to extend his contract.
• Arteta admits to doubts over changing Arsenal starter’s position
  Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal weren’t sure whether to return Myles Lewis-Skelly to left-back, but the manager is delighted with the player’s response.