Barcelona have identified Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie as a priority target ahead of the January transfer window, with sporting director Deco reportedly making initial contact over a potential move.

According to a report by FootballTransfers on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, citing information from SPORT, Barcelona view the Ecuador international as an ideal addition to strengthen their defence because of his ability to play both centre-back and left-back.

The Catalan giants have enjoyed an impressive start to the season, recording 13 victories in 15 matches across all competitions.

However, despite spending €184 million during the summer transfer window, strengthening their defensive options remains a priority for manager Hansi Flick.

Hincapie has emerged as a potential solution following his limited involvement at Arsenal this season.

The 24-year-old joined the Gunners permanently from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer for €40 million after impressing during his loan spell last season.

He made 25 Premier League appearances and started the Champions League final before completing his permanent move to the Emirates Stadium.

However, the Ecuadorian has struggled to secure regular playing time this campaign, managing just 46 minutes of Premier League football.

His opportunities have been restricted by Riccardo Calafiori's return to fitness, although minor injury problems have also affected his ability to establish himself in Mikel Arteta's starting XI.

According to the report, Deco has already contacted Hincapie's representatives to establish whether the defender would consider leaving Arsenal during the January transfer window.

Barcelona could face difficulties completing the deal, however, because Arsenal have no intention of losing an important squad member midway through the season.

Arteta also considers Hincapie a valuable option as Arsenal compete for domestic and European honours, while the player has reportedly shown no indication that he wants to leave.

Interestingly, football analytics firm SciSports considers Barcelona a better sporting destination for Hincapie than Arsenal.

The assessment gives Barcelona a club-fit rating of 81 out of 100, compared with Arsenal's 74, while suggesting he could receive slightly more playing time under Flick.

Hincapie currently has an estimated transfer value of €61.5 million, meaning Barcelona would need considerable financial resources to secure his services.

The Spanish giants could also consider alternative defensive targets, including Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni, as they assess their options ahead of January.