Piero Hincapie to be denied Arsenal welcome present as £52m transfer agreement reached

Piero Hincapie will be denied the perfect welcome present when his impending move to Arsenal is officially confirmed. The defender is expected to join the Gunners in the coming days, with negotiations still ongoing at club level. He is thought to have agreed personal terms, having informed Bayer Leverkusen of his desire to play in the Premier League.

Hincapie was initially linked with Tottenham, who recently missed out on the signing of Arsenal new boy Eberechi Eze. However, it seems the Ecuador international is poised to join Arsenal with a £52million deal edging closer to completion. If things are wrapped up quickly, he could make his debut in this weekend's game against title favourites Liverpool.

Arsenal will be delighted to sign Hincapie, who usually operates at centre-back but is capable of playing on the left when required. However, they will be unable to offer him the ideal welcome present to sweeten the deal.

He will be denied his preferred shirt number, which is already occupied by fellow summer signing Cristhian Mosquera. The latter was handed the No 3 upon his arrival at the Emirates Stadium, meaning it is out of bounds.

Hincapie has worn the number for the last three seasons at Bayer Leverkusen but will be forced to choose a different one when he joins Arsenal.

He wore the No 33 during his first campaign in Germany but that number has already been taken by Riccardo Calafiori. At his previous club, CA Talleres, he chose the No 4 which is currently worn at Arsenal by Ben White.

The most likely option for Hincapie would be the No 5, which was vacated when Thomas Partey left Arsenal earlier this summer. Other available choices include the No 18, No 25, No 26, No 27 and No 30.

When he finally arrives, he will become the club's eighth signing of the transfer window. Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Eze and Martin Zubimendi have already been snapped up by the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta refused to shut down the possibility of more incomings after Eze was unveiled as an Arsenal player before last weekend's victory over Leeds United.

"We are all with big smiles on our faces, understanding that we have done really well, but the market is not closed," said the Spaniard.

"We have to stay very alert because there are a lot of things that can happen. But, so far so good."

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