Arsenal’s next moves after Piero Hincapie as £70m star arrives and right-back signed

Arsenal’s next moves after Piero Hincapie as £70m star arrives and right-back signedMikel Arteta and Andrea Berta are on the hunt for players who can make a difference for Arsenal next seasonCommentsSportopinionKasra Moradi Senior Sports Journalist06:00, 15 May 2026View 3 ImagesBradley Barcola should be Arsenal's top transfer priority this summer(Image: Getty) The hallmark of an elite club is refusing to be fully content with the squad at your disposal. Regardless of whether Arsenal lift the Premier League trophy or conquer Europe, this season has undoubtedly shown they sit at the pinnacle of the sport with the very best teams. ‌ Reaching the Champions League final and topping the Premier League table for the majority of the season represent remarkable achievements, though replicating such success next season presents an altogether different challenge. ‌ Fortunately, title rivals Manchester City and Pep Guardiola have already created the template for how to achieve sustained excellence year on year. What Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta must do is fairly straightforward: invest heavily each summer and identify potential areas of vulnerability before they become glaring weaknesses. ‌ FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page Last summer, when the Gunners splashed a club record sum exceeding £250million on new recruits, showed the intent required to become champions, and they're now reaping the rewards. By all accounts, they'll need to adopt a more creative approach in the transfer market this time given that staggering expenditure, with departures proving just as crucial as exciting signings. Arsenal's first acquisition this summer was agreed before the current season even kicked off. Piero Hincapie's permanent move to N5 is already wrapped up, having joined on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen. The arrangement included a buy option which functions more as an obligation to buy, similar to how David Raya was signed from Brentford, allowing Arsenal to effectively navigate Profit and Sustainability Rules. ‌ READ MORE: Ex-Arsenal star Lucas Torreira punched in 'targeted attack' at shopping centreREAD MORE: Arsenal issued brutal Champions League final prediction - 'It can be ugly'The tenacious defender, who has featured in various positions across the back-line during his debut campaign, has already won over both Arteta and the Emirates crowd ahead of his five-year contract being made official. The Gunners paid an initial loan fee of around £5m in 2025 but will need to settle the outstanding £40m in the coming weeks. With Hincapie all but confirmed, Berta can shift his focus to the most obvious area requiring reinforcement - the left wing - which has long been the Achilles' heel of the Arsenal squad. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard remain valuable assets, as demonstrated by the former's Champions League performances and the latter's crucial strike against West Ham. However, neither winger has succeeded in claiming the position as their own, and the left flank continues to pose considerably less danger to opposing defences than Arsenal's right. ‌ One or both of Trossard and Martinelli are expected to depart this summer, clearing the path for a genuinely elite player to arrive and strengthen the starting eleven. Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain should be Berta's number one target. View 3 ImagesPiero Hincapie will be signed by Arsenal permanently(Image: Getty) The Frenchman, still only 23 years old, is a world-class threat on counter-attacks. His pace and dribbling ability also make him adept at unlocking deep-lying defences, something Arsenal encounter on a regular basis. ‌ Barcola has consistently demonstrated his quality under Luis Enrique's European champions, racking up 44 goal contributions in 64 appearances as PSG secured a historic treble last term. Yet he is behind Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue in the pecking order, with their arrivals limiting his game time and stunting his development into a truly world class player. Arsenal should do everything possible to secure his signature this summer in a deal likely to cost between £60m and £70m. Recent reports suggest his representatives are already exploring potential options. With the left hand side bolstered, Arteta can then look toward strengthening his midfield. The Gunners are lucky that Declan Rice has been injury free for much of his time in north London as they have no clear replacement for him if he suddenly faces a lengthy absence. ‌ Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV packageThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more£44SkyGet the deal hereProduct DescriptionSky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL. Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf. Sandro Tonali is perhaps the player best equipped to deputise for Rice or operate alongside the England international, given his tenacious defensive work, stamina and Premier League experience. However, Newcastle are expected to demand at least £80m for the Italian, who was linked with Arsenal in January. Atalanta's Ederson represents a more financially astute, if slightly riskier, alternative. The combative Brazilian is valued at £43m and has attracted interest from both Arsenal and Manchester United in recent weeks, suggesting that Berta and Arteta hold the player in high regard. ‌ His attributes make him a useful addition to the squad, capable of sharing the workload with Rice, Martin Zubimendi and the newly-promoted Myles Lewis-Skelly, in a way that Christian Norgaard struggled to do this season. Don't be surprised to see the Dane depart the club this summer should a midfielder be brought in. View 3 ImagesThe Gunners have long admired Tino Livramento(Image: Getty) The final area Arsenal must strengthen is right-back. They currently find themselves stretched following injuries to Jurrien Timber and Ben White, the latter suffering a season-ending MCL injury recently against West Ham. Article continues belowWhite proved his worth when called upon to fill in for first-choice Timber, particularly with his telepathic understanding with Bukayo Saka on the right hand side. However, the England international's persistent injury problems mean he can no longer be relied upon to last an entire campaign. Instead, the Gunners should pursue Tino Livramento of Newcastle. Arsenal could secure the England full-back for somewhere between £60m and £70m, with reports suggesting there is a release clause included in his Magpies contract. Arteta is understood to be a huge admirer of Livramento's versatility, given he is capable of playing at both right back and left back. He would undoubtedly strengthen Arsenal's squad depth as they prepare to mount another challenge across all four competitions in what promises to be a demanding and potentially trophy-laden campaign.