Arsenal close to securing a strong defensive deal

Arsenal continue their aggressive summer transfer activity, entering advanced negotiations to sign Bayer Leverkusen's Ecuadorian defender Pero Hincapie in a deal worth up to £52 million before the transfer window closes next week. If the deal goes through, the London club's summer spending will exceed £300 million. According to Standard Sport, Spanish coach Mikel Arteta considers the 23-year-old Hincapie a top target to bolster the left flank of the defense. However, the completion of the deal may depend on Arsenal's success in freeing up space in the first-team squad by selling several players before the end of the window. The Gunners are planning to offload Polish defender Jakub Kiwior and Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko, with Portuguese club Porto preparing to submit a formal bid for Kiwior this week. The 25-year-old Kiwior joined Arsenal in 2023 from Italian club Spezia for around £20 million. Despite impressive performances towards the end of last season during the absence of defender Gabriel due to injury, he failed to secure a regular place in Arteta's starting lineup. The London club is also considering offers for several other players, including Fabio Vieira, Karl Hein, and Reiss Nelson. Hincapie has a release clause of €60 million (approximately £52 million) in his Leverkusen contract, and his contract with the German club runs until 2029. Despite previous links to Tottenham Hotspur, reports indicate that the London club has not entered into serious negotiations this summer, as they are currently focusing on strengthening their attack rather than their defense.