Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Antonio Conte is gearing up for some fresh challenges and has identified Piero Hincapie as one of his primary targets. The 20-year-old defender has been touted as the next big prospect, and several clubs, including Tottenham, are expected to beg for his signature.
Hincapie arrived in Bundesliga last season as Bayer Leverkusen hunted him down from Argentine outfit Atletico Talleres. And he has been a revelation since then, nailing down a permanent spot in the team. With Ecuador slated to participate in the World Cup, Hincapie’s stock will only rise, and Tottenham are ready to implement their smash-and-grab opportunity.
Tottenham director Fabio Paratici has held a conversation with the player’s entourage over the possibility of a potential deal. Arch-rival Arsenal are also reportedly in the fray and could be interested in securing a deal for the player.
But recent reports have claimed that the 20-year-old has agreed to extend his stay at Bayer Leverkusen. And the Bundesliga giants have reached a verbal agreement, which could be a severe blow to Tottenham’s aspirations.
But Spurs are unlikely to budge and will come all guns blazing. An offer of €25 million might be suitable. But should Hincapie sign a new deal, his value will likely skyrocket. Several Italian clubs, including AC Milan and AS Roma, are also monitoring his progress and could test the waters with an opening bid.
Tottenham do have an enticing defensive lineup, but Conte wants to introduce some stiff competition. Clement Lenglet is poised to return to Barcelona when his loan stint ends, and it will eventually open a place in the Tottenham squad.
Bayer Leverkusen paid in the region of €8 million to acquire the 20-year-old’s services and will likely look to make significant profit to sanction any kind of sale. Spurs have had to endure a few disappointments in the UEFA Champions League and Premier League, and Antonio Conte wants some more additions in a bid to fine-tune the squad.
The latest setback came in Europe, with Tottenham playing out a goalless draw with Bundesliga giants Eintracht Frankfurt. It will be interesting to see if Spurs return to the market to sign Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen.
