Arsenal have expressed interest in hijacking another Tottenham transfer deal by signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.
Spurs have been heavily linked with a move for Hincapie, who has informed Leverkusen of his desire to leave the club before the transfer deadline.
The 23-year-old, who can play centre-back or on the left, has made 165 appearances for the Bundesliga side over the past four seasons.
Hincapie, who has 46 international caps for Ecuador, is under contract until 2029 but has a release clause worth 60m euros (£52m).
He looked emotional on the pitch after Bayer Leverkusen’s opening Bundesliga defeat to Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Your ultimate guide to the football season
Metro’s weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it’s an open goal.
Tottenham have already seen one offer rejected by Leverkusen but are expected to return with an improved bid.
However, Spurs face the prospect of missing out on another target to north London rivals Arsenal after the Gunners entered the transfer race.
Arsenal have made an official approach for Hincapie and the early indications are that he favours a move to the Gunners, according to The Athletic.
But Arsenal will only made an official bid for Hincapie if they are able to offload current defenders, with Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko both linked with moves.
Porto are planning to make an improved bid for Kiwior this week after seeing an initial offer rejected earlier in the summer.
Mikel Arteta is reluctant to lose Kiwior without the guarantee of a replacement but Arsenal are expected to accept a deal if Porto offer around £20m.
Missing out on Hincapie to Arsenal would be another embarrassing blow for Tottenham, who lost Eberechi Eze to their arch-rivals last week.
Spurs were on the verge of signing the England winger when Arsenal swooped in and hijacked the £68m deal.
Thomas Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham boss earlier in the summer, said he ‘didn’t want any players that don’t want to come to this club and wear this fantastic badge’.
Eze became Arteta’s seventh summer signing following Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Cristian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Arsenal have enjoyed a strong start to the new season following that spending spree, beating Manchester United on the opening weekend and then thrashing Leeds United 5-0 on Saturday.
Spurs have also impressed in the early stages of the new Premier League campaign, beating Burnley at home before stunning Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Bayer Leverkusen, managed by former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, have already lost Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka and Jonathan Tah so far this summer, as well as former head coach Xavi Alonso.
More to follow…