Gunners Set £51m Hincapie Deal as Barcelona Receive Martinelli Valuation

Arsenal are poised to wrap up their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie this summer, with the Gunners ready to trigger a €52m permanent deal for the Ecuador centre-back. Combined with his loan arrangement, the total package reaches €58m—approximately £51m—to bring him to the Emirates on a four-year contract with a further year's option, at £100,000 per week.

Meanwhile, the north London club have made their stance clear to Barcelona regarding Gabriel Martinelli's availability. The Catalan outfit have been informed of Arsenal's asking price for the Brazilian winger: €45m, or £39m in sterling.

Martinelli has endured a frustrating campaign on the periphery of Mikel Arteta's plans, restricted to just eight Premier League starts as rotation has become his lot. Once a reliable starter, the 23-year-old has gradually found himself squeezed out, particularly after Arsenal's substantial summer recruitment drive that saw over £250m invested in fresh faces.

Barcelona see Martinelli as an attractive prospect precisely because they can offer the minutes he's struggling to accumulate at the Emirates. The La Liga side believe they've spotted a window of opportunity, with Arsenal keen to generate funds for their own attacking overhaul and willing to consider moving assets on.

The Gunners' plans to reshape their wing department necessitate raising capital, and a sale of Martinelli for around £39m would help balance the books whilst freeing up squad space for new arrivals.

Earlier in the campaign, Bayern Munich had also circled Martinelli. Discussions between the German club and the player's representatives proved cordial enough, though Bayern's valuation fell well short of Arsenal's demands. The Bavarians had tabled figures in the €30m-€35m bracket, which the Gunners dismissed outright—Arsenal's assessment of Martinelli's worth was significantly higher. Financial constraints and Martinelli's contentment in London ultimately saw Bayern step back from the chase.

Martinelli himself has previously downplayed exit talk. Speaking during international duty last September, he suggested Arsenal's recruitment strategy only strengthened his resolve to stay, highlighting the arrival of Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka's emergence, and Leandro Trossard as examples of the club's ambition. He noted that competition for places was inevitable given the fixture congestion and the possibility of injuries, but framed it as a positive sign of the club's quality rather than a concern.