Liverpool aim to strengthen defense with Piero Hincapie signing
Liverpool want to sign highly-rated Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen in the January transfer window.
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has made signing a new centre-back a top priority and has zeroed in on 21-year-old Hincapie as his primary target.
The Ecuador international was a regular starter for Leverkusen last season but has played no games this campaign. However, his strong 2022/23 season put him on the radar of top European clubs.
Virgil van Dijk, aged 32 cannot keep playing at the top level forever. Moreover, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez have been injury-prone in recent seasons and the Reds are apparently seeing Hincapie as a player to add instant depth to the backline.
The 21-year-old can play as a left-sided centre-back, which is something of a premium in today’s market. As he plays more matches, he will gradually improve. It is needless to say Klopp can unlock the potential in the Ecuadorian centre-back.
Liverpool are supposedly pursuing a €55 million deal for him. That fee would make the young South American Liverpool’s sixth most expensive signing ever, behind the likes of Van Dijk, Darwin Nunez, and Alisson. It demonstrates how highly the Premier League giants rate Hincapie’s potential.
Hincapie could be a long-term replacement
Liverpool’s backline has been feeling some pressure lately due to the absence of Ibrahima Konate owing to injury. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence also immediately takes Joe Gomez out of the centre-back equation.
For a 21-year-old already accustomed to a top European league like the Bundesliga, Hincapie could contribute right away while developing into a cornerstone. His combination of physical tools and technical ability make him an intriguing fit for Klopp’s system.
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If Liverpool can finalize a deal for Hincapie in January, it would give the Reds a significant boost. When teams like Arsenal and Manchester City boast such a deep defensive depth, Klopp must look at his situation at Anfield and demand the same from the owners.
