Arsenal one step away from deadline-beating £45m Piero Hincapie transfer

Arsenal are closing in on a deal for Piero Hincapie as he travels to London but one more hurdle needs to be overcome before getting the transfer over the line before Monday's deadline

Piero Hincapie is still awaiting permission to undergo a medical with Arsenal but is travelling to London in preparation for a deal. The Bayer Leverkusen star remained on the bench for the Bundesliga side's 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen on Saturday.

It was reported that the sides had agreed a deal for the Ecuador star to move on loan to the Emirates, with an option to buy the star for £45million at the end of that period. But that agreement still needs to be finalised, per the Athletic.

The 23-year-old has already agreed personal terms for a five-year contract with Arsenal next summer, having signed a contract extension until 2029 with Leverkusen in December.

Hincapie has informed his current club of his desire to leave and was noted to have a £50m release clause. Arsenal look to have secured a deal despite interest from Tottenham, Newcastle and Liverpool.

The move will see Mikel Arteta add greater depth to his defence as sporting director Andrea Berta lands a long term target by adding an eighth player of the summer. If a deal is made, Hincapie will join Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera and Eberechi Eze in north London.

The deal will permit Jakub Kiwior to depart for Porto before the end of the transfer window. Hincapie is viewed as a direct replacement for the Poland interenational.

The deal for Kiwior is worth a guaranteed £21.6m for the Gunners. The central defender is said to have already agreed terms with the Portuguese club.

Leverkusen boss Erik ten Hag is disappointed to lose Hincapie after the German side failed to win their first three matches of the season. The Dutchman is confident in his alternatives however.

He said: "Letting good players leave always hurts. But we also have other good players and they then need to take on that task."

Arteta will undoubtedly be asked for an update in his media duties as Arsenal take on Liverpool. The clash marks an early indicator in this season's title race between last term's top two sides.

"They are the champions, they are champions for a reason, because they deserve to be champions,! said Arteta. "They were the better team last year, the most consistent one, the one that found ways to win in many different ways and we want to be that team this year. We need to go to Anfield with that spirit and that conviction."