Bayer Leverkusen currently refuses to negotiate for Piero Hincapié below his €60 million release clause. The Gunners are eager to reach a deal to bring the Ecuadorian international to North London, proposing to loan him for one year with an option to make the move permanent next summer. However, Arsenal still insists on a permanent transfer fee of €50 million.
Hincapié has already reached a verbal agreement with Arsenal on personal terms for a long-term contract. During Leverkusen's 2-1 Bundesliga defeat to Hoffenheim on Saturday, he left the pitch in tears, seemingly bidding farewell to Leverkusen's fans.
While other Premier League and European clubs have shown interest in him, the Emirates Stadium (Arsenal's home ground) remains his preferred destination, and he is actively pushing to join Mikel Arteta's side.
Nevertheless, Bayer Leverkusen has already lost several key players this summer, including Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, and Jonathan Tah, and is not in a hurry to further weaken the new squad built for head coach Erik ten Hag—especially with the transfer window approaching its closure. The Bundesliga club insists that any deal must be conducted on their terms, particularly given that the 23-year-old’s contract with Leverkusen runs until 2029.
Meanwhile, Porto is still waiting for Arsenal's approval to advance the deal to sign Polish defender Jakub Kiwior—a loan arrangement with an obligation to buy. The 25-year-old is eager to make the move and has agreed in principle to sign a five-year contract with the Portuguese club. However, Arsenal has not yet officially approved his departure or finalized an agreement with the Primeira Liga side.
Porto originally planned to arrange a private jet for Kiwior to fly to Portugal for a medical on Tuesday evening, but the flight was canceled earlier this afternoon. Negotiations between the two parties are still ongoing, though significant progress has been made.
Porto hopes to resolve the matter quickly, but the current standoff remains: Bayer Leverkusen has informed Arsenal that securing the Ecuadorian midfielder will require triggering Hincapié’s €60 million release clause, and the Gunners have not yet committed to this demand.
