Xabi Alonso already knows exactly why Mikel Arteta wants to sign Piero Hincapie at Arsenal

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Arsenal are not done in the transfer window after signing Eberechi Eze, with the Gunners now looking at defenders.

Mikel Arteta loves signing defenders, and the Arsenal manager isn’t satisfied with only welcoming one this window. 

Cristhian Mosquera was added to the Arsenal squad this summer to bolster the options at the back, but with Jakub Kiwior expected to leave, further replenishments are needed. 

It’s been reported that Arsenal are looking at signing Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen before the window closes.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Xabi Alonso knows why Piero Hincapie is Mikel Arteta’s dream signing 

Hincapie, who can play centre-back and left-back with a profile similar to Riccardo Calafiori’s, is wanted by Arsenal and Tottenham. 

After Arsenal hijacked Spurs’ transfer for Eze, Andrea Berta is seemingly eager to hand the Lilywhites another blow in the market. 

Out of nowhere, David Ornstein confirmed that Arsenal are ‘working’ on signing Hincapie and while the news comes as a surprise, Arteta’s thought process doesn’t.

In March 2023, Xabi Alonso spoke to journalists while he was Bayer Leverkusen manager, where he made his admiration for Hincapie known. 

“I think he’s a very modern defender, he can play in different positions,” Alonso said, via Bayer Leverkusen’s official website. 

“He’s served us as a full-back in recent games, but has also been the left centre-back when we’ve played with a back three.

“He’s aggressive, is making better decisions when he has the ball, backs himself more to play diagonal passes and get in behind. It motivates me to have a player with his potential and desire because he helps you, and you help him. He’s a great player.”

Alonso’s evaluation makes it so clear why Arteta and Berta are working to sign Hincapie, who ticks all the boxes of the dynamism the Gunners want in their back four.

Hincapie is one of Europe’s best

Still only 23, the Ecuadorian has plenty of room to grow, which could happen at Arsenal.

That being said, the defender should essentially keep doing what he’s doing, as over the past year of action, he’s established himself as one of Europe’s best.

As seen above, based on per 90 data from Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and the Europa League, Hincapie is near the top of the pile when it comes to progressive-minded defenders. 

The Bundesliga star is incredibly strong in areas that Arteta looks for his defenders to thrive in, making him the perfect profile to bolster Arsenal’s back line.

With Spurs also wanting Hincapie, it remains to be seen who will win the race, but given Berta’s track record, many will be optimistic.