Report: Spurs were willing to pay £34.5m for centre-back during the summer

Bild have revealed that Tottenham Hotspur were willing to pay €40m (£34.5m) for Piero Hincapie during the summer and the North London club remain interested in the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back ahead of the January transfer window.

Hincapie was already considered one of the best young defenders in the Bundesliga and the 20-year-old’s stock was seemingly on the rise thanks to his performances at the World Cup, with the centre-back putting in two solid displays for Ecuador against Qatar and the Netherlands.

However, he did make a blunder against Senegal yesterday, giving away a sloppy penalty to hand the African side the lead, with Ecuador eventually losing their spot in the last 16.

The Express claimed last week that Tottenham and Atletico Madrid were leading the race for Leverkusen star ahead of the January transfer window.

The Daily Mirror revealed a couple of days ago that the defender is also on Chelsea’s radar, with the Blues said to be keeping a close eye on the youngster’s World Cup displays.

Bild have now backed up Tottenham’s and Chelsea’s interest in Hincapie and added that the Ecuador international’s name is also on the wishlist of a third London club in the form of Arsenal.

The German publication asserts that Leverkusen do not want to let the centre-back go and are planning to offer him a new contract. The publication also quotes the Bundesliga club’s director Simon Rolfes brushing aside the speculation over Hincapie’s future.

Rolfes said: “Piero is under contract with us for a long time (until 2026), so I won’t comment on every rumour. There’s nothing more to say about that.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Hincapie would be a much cheaper alternative to both Josko Gvardiol and Alessandro Bastoni, and the Leverkusen youngster arguably has just as high a ceiling as the Leipzig and Inter stars. So, it is understandable why several Premier League clubs are looking at the Ecuadorian as an option.

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