According to a report by TeamTalk on Tuesday November 10, 2026, despite Barcelona's increasing interest, Arsenal allegedly will not sell Piero Hincapie during the January transfer window. The Ecuadorian defender is a key cog in Mikel Arteta's Arsenal machine, according to the Gunners.

With their current Premier League form, Arsenal are heavy favorites to win the league again. Brighton, Manchester City, and Liverpool could all benefit from injuries and ill-advised transfers.

After suffering a string of injuries, Barcelona will likely look to shore up their defense in the coming January transfer window. Alessandro Bastoni, Josko Gvardiol, and Lisandro Martinez are all being considered by the Spanish giants as potential left-footed center-backs.

But Hincapie's versatility is what has really piqued Barcelona's interest in him. Even though Arteta has given the Ecuadorian international fewer opportunities this season, he has mostly played left back since joining Arsenal.

Hincapie will not be starting the Premier League this season because Riccardo Calafiori is now the preferred choice. There have been rumors that Barcelona is considering trading Alejandro Balde for Hudson-Hincapie or going for a more direct transfer.

But according to journalist Pete O'Rourke, Arsenal will not let Hincapie leave. He went on to say that despite Barcelona's serious interest, the Gunners are hell-bent on keeping their defensive options.

O'Rourke elaborated by saying that Arteta wants enough quality from every position on his team and that he wants two dependable players for every position. Accordingly, Arsenal thinks it's crucial to keep up a high level of competition and defensive depth.

Fabrizio Romano has also voiced his disapproval, denying rumors that Hincapie would be leaving for Barcelona. He elaborated on how Arsenal is content with their defensive setup and averse to making any adjustments.

Romo also praised Hincapie for being versatile enough to play center back or left back. Arsenal is even more committed to keeping him on board after January because of his versatility, which makes him invaluable to Arteta.