Arsenal’s recruitment team have reportedly identified Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie as an option before the club prioritized a move for Riccardo Calafiori.
Calafiori’s move to Arsenal was made official yesterday, with the Italian linking up with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and his side on their pre-season tour of the US.
However, it appears that Arsenal’s recruitment department have also looked at other names for the role, with The Athletic claiming that Hincapie was another candidate that came up.
The report also talked about Ajax wonderkid Jorrel Hato, who was also mentioned by Charles Watts in his special column for the Daily Briefing.
In the past, Liverpool have also been linked with Hincapie by Neil Jones and others, although at the moment it seems that he is not close to leaving Leverkusen.
Arsenal fans will be delighted with Calafiori’s deal, even if there were other good options, the 22-year-old perhaps stands out as one of the most impressive talents on the market.
Athletic claim that Arsenal were happy to pay a big fee for Calafiori, as they see it as a good investment even if his price could be boosted a bit by playing well in the Euros, and the fact that Bologna will always pay 50% of the money. whatever money they received from the player’s former club FC Basel.
Calafiori seems to fit Arteta’s style of play, although one imagines Hincapie would have done the job there and could soon secure a move to another big club.
Leverkusen, however, will be looking to keep this promising squad together after their success under Xabi Alonso last season.
Hincapie was a key part of that Leverkusen side that won the title undefeated, and reached the Europa League final, so the Ecuadorian would be happy if he ends up staying with the German side, who are clearly on the move.
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