- Spurs & Arsenal target same player again
- Hincapie ready to leave Leverkusen
- Deals being put forward currently differ
According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano Spurs have put forward a proposal for Hincapie that would begin as a loan and become a permanent deal next summer. The offer of the obligation to buy matches the €60 million (£52m/$70m) release clause in the Ecuadorian centre-back’s contract with Leverkusen, but crucially delays paying the amount until 2026. He is thought to want to leave his current club, paving the way for Spurs to also open talks over personal terms.
However, news quickly followed from The Athletic that Arsenal are also in for Hincapie and “working” on their own deal. While Leverkusen are holding out for an amount that matches the release clause, it is suggested the Gunners are seeking to negotiate a lower fee they consider a “more realistic market value”. This all comes less than a week after Arsenal moved to snatch Eberechi Eze from under the nose of their north London rivals, although it should be said that Spurs are no way near as far along in the process as they were for the England star – when a deal was all but agreed.
Despite moving to Argentina at 18 years of age, Hincapie started his senior career at Independiente del Valle in Ecuador – the same club that produced current Chelsea pair Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez, as well as Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Willian Pacho. He is part of Ecuador’s new golden generation, qualifying for successive World Cups for the first time in 20 years.
Spurs and Arsenal appear to be offering different deals, so it could come down to whichever Leverkusen find most attractive. The difference with Eze, however, was that the proposals presented to Crystal Palace were matched, giving him a free choice. If Leverkusen have a better offer from one or the other, and are willing to cash in, they could try and persuade Hincapie to go for that option. Right now, Spurs are offering more money, but Arsenal would be handing over cash sooner.
