The Anfield team might be poised to add a new foreign player to their roster.
A new report has revealed the precise cost to bring the exciting new defender to the Premier League, and Liverpool are making headway in negotiations to sign him in January.
Who plays center back for Liverpool?
Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, and Jarell Quansah are the current alternatives for Jurgen Klopp on Merseyside, but at 32 years old each, they aren’t getting any younger and will soon need to be replaced.
The hierarchy could look to bolster their defensive ranks at the start of the new year having failed to secure any players in that position over the summer, and they already seem to have highlighted their ideal candidate. Anfield’s captain has recently been suspended, in addition to when extremely frustrating injuries occur that the club are seemingly prone to.
Piero Hincapie of Bayer Leverkusen joined the team in 2021 after leaving CA Talleres, and he has since made a total of 77 appearances. Despite still having four more years left on his contract, he has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
The Ecuadorian international allegedly held talks with the Reds, West Ham United, and RB Leipzig back in August. Although a deal fell through before the deadline, the 21-year-old could experience second chance luck in January.
Piero Hincapie is being signed by Liverpool.
According to Spanish media, Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen have begun “advanced talks” about signing Hincapie in January, according to CaughtOffside.
After making the center-back position his top target at the beginning of the year, Klopp is reportedly “pushing” to see a deal through.
The BayArena star is only worth £30 million, according to the same source, but it’s been said that the two parties are negotiating a transfer worth somewhere around £55 million. As a result, this is absolutely one to watch closely in the weeks and months coming up to 2024.
Is Piero Hincapie any good?
Hincapie is a defensive “wall,” according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and that was evident last season as he averaged 2.5 clearances, two aerial wins, and 1.7 tackles per game in the Bundesliga, according to WhoScored. However, while he can be a rock at the center of a backline, he can also contribute in the final third.
The Esmeraldas native, who rates in the top 95 percentile for center backs’ progressive carries, is known for wanting to help his team advance up the field. During his stint at his current club, this has led to him recording five contributions (three goals and two assists) in 77 appearances.
Hincapie, who is naturally left-footed, can also play out wide at left-back and even a little higher up in the middle of the field in addition to his typical position in the center, so his versatility is still another excellent quality for the manager to have on staff.