According to the latest report from The Athletic, Hincapie is expected to permanently transfer to Arsenal next summer. The club does not plan to sell the player during the winter transfer window, but it's not certain about the summer transfer window.
It is reported that, given Arsenal's well-rounded squad, it is difficult to determine which positions they will strengthen during the winter transfer window, and their final signings will be affected by player departures.
Even though the team has achieved remarkable results, maintaining such a large roster is no easy task, so it is inevitable that there will be some natural personnel changes next summer.
Arsenal already has a strong squad of seasoned players, so the next phase of player recruitment may place more emphasis on developing young players, which means they will target young players with great potential to provide support for the first team.
To align with this strategy, Arsenal is finalizing the transfer of 16-year-old Ecuadorian twin brothers Edwin and Holger Quintero, a midfield duo who will join from Independiente when they turn 18 in August 2027.
As Hincapie has been included in the transfer list for next summer, and since Arsenal has already invested approximately £250 million last summer, they are very eager to avoid paying another €52 million in transfer fees for Qiyema within the same fiscal year.
Therefore, they came up with a clever solution: first, rent the player, and both Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen have the option to activate the permanent transfer clause next summer.
If Arsenal fails to activate this clause, Bayer Leverkusen can activate it, thereby forcing Arsenal to buy out, and all parties expect that the permanent transfer will ultimately be completed. As a result, Arsenal will already have an expenditure of £45 million next summer.
Part of the funds will be offset by selling Kiwior to Porto, and a similar arrangement also applies to a transfer worth over 27 million euros. As for the January transfer window, Arsenal is not actively seeking to sell any first-team players.
They are currently competing on multiple fronts and eager to end their long wait for the Premier League title. This season, the depth of the team's squad has been a significant advantage, and they hope to maintain this edge.
However, in 2026, the departure of players is inevitable. Following last summer's large-scale signings, selling players is imperative, and how to attract players and set reasonable prices will be one of the responsibilities of sports director Berta in the coming months.
Arsenal has some exceptionally talented players, but their playing time in the Premier League is not extensive. Players like Ben White and Gabriel Jesus may attract the attention of other clubs in 2026.
The World Cup sometimes serves as a catalyst for the transfer market. Lewis-Skelly is expected to be selected for the England national team, and Tuchel has also stated that he needs more playing time. Therefore, it would not be surprising if other Premier League clubs make inquiries to Arsenal.
Lewis-Skelly signed a long-term contract this summer, and so far, there are no signs that Arsenal is ready to sell him. He played an important role in the matches against Bayern and Chelsea, which indicates that he remains a key part of Arteta's plans.
BoazMaro
4
Arsenal was really quick to grab these twins