Arsenal now trying to sign £52m player who claims he ‘was like Neymar’ back in the day – ‘great goalscorer…’

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Arsenal have recently bolstered the attack for Mikel Arteta with the £68m signing of Eberechi Eze.

The England international scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 appearances for Crystal Palace last season, an impressive return from his attacking midfield role.

Arsenal are now trying to sign Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen as well – a defender who could get himself on the scoresheet quite often for the Gunners considering his past.

Piero Hincapie used to be a forward before moving into defence

Hincapie has asked to leave Bayer Leverkusen after Arsenal came calling, with the German side keen to receive the full amount of his €60m (£52m) release clause.

Should a deal materialise for the Ecuador international, Jurrien Timber might no longer be the only Arsenal defender scoring for fun after the Dutchman’s double against Leeds.

Hincapie told Scouted Football (via HITC) back in 2022 that he “used to score a lot of goals” in his youth – when he was an attacker – revealing: “I have always liked to play with the ball. When I started as a kid I played much more offensively, as a winger. I used to score a lot of goals.

“I was like Neymar, I didn’t dribble as much as him but I was a great goalscorer. I even took free kicks! Maybe that’s why I’m now a centre-back who likes to go forward.”

Hincapie – who Tottenham also want – has scored seven goals and provided five assists in 166 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, which equates to a goal involvement every 13.8 games.

However, under Arteta, where Arsenal create chances galore from dead ball situations and defenders often push forward, the Ecuadorian should improve those numbers in north London.

Piero Hincapie would replace Jakub Kiwior

If Arsenal can find an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen, Hincapie would replace Jakub Kiwior in the squad.

Porto are likely to sign Kiwior – and a deal worth just over £22m is close to materialising according to reports in Portugal, namely A Bola.

It would see Arteta lose one of his left-footed central defenders who can also play at left-back, but that is exactly what Hincapie offers.

Therefore, this seems to be a like-for-like swap in the transfer market in terms of player profile.