Speaking to Sky Sports News (19/06/22 at 15:05), Tim Vickery has given the low-down on Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen, who has recently been linked with a potential move to Tottenham.
Hincapie moved to Leverkusen just last season and impressed with strong performances in the 27 Bundesliga appearances he made this season (TransferMarkt).
The Athletic reported that Fabio Paratici had his heart set on signing a left-sided centre-back for Antonio Conte’s side this summer.
The Sun now claim that Spurs are interested in 20-year-old Hincapie and have been instructed by the German club to pay £34 million to acquire his services.
However, South-American football expert Vickery is apprehensive about the potential signing: “This is another where I have just been delighted to have been proved wrong. He’s first choice for Ecuador. He’s a left-sided centre-back.
“He has a nice left foot. Brings the ball out of defence very well. Making it interesting perhaps for a back three formation. If you are going to play a three, then two of those must be able to bring the ball out of defence.
“When he went into the Ecuador team a year ago, the Ecuador coach was really throwing in youth. When he threw him in I thought ‘no’. During that Copa America, he was making a howler a game.
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“But if you are a centre-back, then you have to make mistakes as you develop. Subsequently, he moved already from Ecuador to Argentina and he had a good season in Argentina. He’s done very, very well in the Bundesliga as well.
“Again, I would be a little bit worried at a lack of physicality. But I have been very, very impressed by his progress. And I have learnt to trust the judgement of Alfaro, the Ecuador coach because he keeps going for youth.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It would be great to have another left-footed centre-back to provide competition to the impressive Ben Davies next season.
Hincapie’s ability to travel with the ball and play through the lines would compliment Conte’s system perfectly. Whether he would have the physical capabilities to thrive in the Prem is another question.
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