Barcelona joins the race for Arsenal target Piero Hincapie

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is considering Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie to strengthen his defensive line. The German manager wants a left-footed center-back in the squad. However, Arsenal holds the advantage in this transfer, as the London club has included a £45 million buy-option in the Ecuadorian's loan agreement. This is reported by Goal.com .

The Catalans continue to reshape their squad ahead of the summer transfer window. Having reached an agreement with Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, Barcelona now considers the transfer of Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez a priority. According to the Daily Mail, Hincapie has now become the primary defensive target.

Barcelona was previously interested in Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni but shifted focus to Hincapie due to financial reasons. The 24-year-old's ball-playing ability and tactical flexibility perfectly match Flick's requirements. However, Arsenal has already agreed on personal terms with the player, offering him a 5-year contract.

If Arsenal activates the buy-option, Barcelona will have to negotiate directly with the London club. For now, the Catalans are monitoring the situation, but Arsenal's contractual advantage limits Barcelona's room for maneuver. If the Londoners do not change their minds, Flick will be forced to look for other alternatives.