According to a report from Liverpool Echo, there is interest from the Merseyside club in Bayer Leverkusen’s defender Piero Hincapie. During this summer transfer window, Liverpool have been actively seeking a left-sided center-back, a role that Hincapie fits.
Sources have indicated that the Reds have now joined the race to secure Hincapie’s services. However, Hincapie encountered an injury while on international duty in June, and he is currently in the process of regaining full fitness.
Hincapie’s Impressive Performances In Bundesliga Last Season
Piero Hincapie had a breakthrough season with Bayer Leverkusen in the 2022-23 campaign. The 20-year-old defender scored one goal and created 1 assist over 43 appearances, starting 40 of those games, in all competitions.
The Ecuadorian talent was a solid defensive force in the backline after as he averaged 1.7 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 2.5 clearances per game in the Bundesliga. He was also efficient in distributing the ball from the back, after completing 83.2% of his attempted passes in the German top flight (stats via whoscored).
Should Klopp Bring Him To Liverpool?
Hincapie is a young and talented defender who has a bright future ahead. He is strong, fast, and adept at anticipating the play. He can operate in various positions remaining versatile on the field, which is something Jurgen Klopp admires.
If the Ecuadorian joins, he would add depth to Liverpool’s defensive department. The Reds currently have Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip as their main centre-backs. However, Matip and Gomez have both been injury-prone in recent years, so it would be good to have another quality option available.
Hincapie’s play style matches well with Klopp’s tactics. Liverpool like to press the opponents a lot, and Hincapie is comfortable in doing that. He’s also good at carrying the ball from the back, which is something Klopp wants his defenders to do well. Overall, Hincapie would be a good addition to Liverpool’s squad. He is young, talented, and versatile, and he would add depth and quality to the defensive department.