Arsenal completed their first signing of the summer transfer window this week and could now jump ahead of rivals Tottenham in the race for a marquee midfielder.
Arsenal kickstart summer business
Piero Hincapie has completed a £34.5million move to Arsenal as the Premier League champions start plotting their title defence.
Hincapie, currently in action for Ecuador in the World Cup, joined Arsenal on a loan deal from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
The 24-year-old defender made 39 appearances in all competitions as the Gunners saw out their first title in 22 years and reached the final of the Champions League.
Hincapie’s permanent move to the Emirates Stadium had been expected to be a formality with Arsenal confirming they have activated his clause to stay, understood to until 2031, on Thursday.
He becomes the club’s first signing of the summer after Arsenal spent in excess of £250m on seven players last year.
Hincapie has played in both of Ecuador’s World Cup games so far – a 1-0 defeat by the Ivory Coast, followed by a goalless draw with Curacao – and is set to be in action again on Thursday when the South Americans face Germany bidding to reach the knockout stages.
Arsenal are also expected to strengthen in midfield, where questions have arisen about the workload of Declan Rice.
Better than Bouaddi: Berta start talks to sign £80m English star for Arsenal
Ayyoub Bouaddi is not the only exciting midfielder on Arsenal’s transfer wishlist.
The England star was spotted limping with heavy strapping around his calf following the Three Lions’ draw against Ghana, having played 4,456 minutes for the Gunners last season, the equivalent of nearly 50 full matches.
Arsenal have been linked with Bournemouth star Alex Scott and Newcastle United’s wantaway midfielder Sandro Tonali, and a Tyneside-based journalist has delivered an update on the Italian’s future this week.
Tonali chooses Arsenal over Tottenham
Indeed, according to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, Tonali prefers to join Arsenal over Tottenham.
“I also don’t think Tonali really wants to go to Spurs. I’m told he would prefer Manchester City or Arsenal. As ever let’s wait and see.”
This would be quite the U-turn from the reports in recent days, with Fabrizio Romano reporting Spurs were the only serious suitor for Tonali and the BBC confirming the Lilywhites had made an £80m bid.
That offer was rejected by the Magpies, who are seeking closer to £100m, and it seems Tottenham’s hesitancy to get to that figure has opened the door for their biggest rivals.
Arsenal, for their part, were showing interest in Tonali prior to Spurs’ move, but are also trying to raid St James’ Park for a different star man.
Our view: Arsenal should prioritise Bruno Guimaraes
David Ornstein reported on Friday that the Gunners have made a verbal offer to Newcastle for Tonali’s teammate, Bruno Guimaraes, and the Brazilian’s cult-like personality would fit like a glove under Mikel Arteta.
Indeed, since Guimaraes’ arrival on Tyneside, the Magpies have not won a game in which he hasn’t featured, with his infectious work rate and leadership crucial to Eddie Howe’s high intensity style.
The 28 year-old has added end product to his game in the last 12 months as well, providing three assists so far at the World Cup following a campaign where he registered nine goals and five assists in 29 top flight games.
Arsenal’s initial offer is thought to be less than £60m and has been rejected, with Ornstein claiming Newcastle have no intention of selling, but if Arteta and Andrea Berta are serious about turning their recent brilliance into permanent dominance, they should be going all out for the man from Rio de Janeiro over the one from Milan.