Premier League giants Liverpool showed an interest in the £50 million-rated Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie over the summer but opted to spend their money in midfield instead.
File this one, then, under ‘one to revisit in 2024’.
Piero Hincapie is one of the finest left-sided centre-halves in an era where left-sided centre-halves are all the rage. Virgil van Dijk is not getting any younger either, with Liverpool reportedly showing an interest in the likes of Levi Colwill and Arthur Theate as well as the much-admired Hincapie.
According to Manuel Sierra, the Ecuadorian’s representative, a player honing his talents under Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen might have ended up at Anfield before the September deadline had Jurgen Klopp not opted to invest over £100 million on the midfield trio of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch instead.
Liverpool ‘were interested’ in Piero Hincapie
“Liverpool were interested in him,” Sierra tells Futbol Sin Casette. “But, at that time, they chose to invest in the midfield.
“For January, they are talking, like other clubs. (To sign Hincapie, you will have to pay) no less than £50 million.”
Hincapie still has a lot to learn and a few rough edges to smooth out – he picked up three red carads last season while giving away a number of penalties – but the youngster has plenty of time on his side. He doesn’t turn 22 until January, after all.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham Hotspur have shown an interest too. Spurs may be one of the clubs going head-to-head with Liverpool in the New Year too, particularly with Eric Dier expected to depart and Ben Davies’ long-term future uncertain.
A Liverpool vs Tottenham battle on the cards
Hincapie, meanwhile, is not the only Ecuador international who found himself in Liverpool’s sights over the summer. Though, unlike with Hincapie, it was Moises Caicedo – rather than The Reds themselves – who eventually vetoed a club-record £110 million deal.
“It’s true he (Jurgen Klopp) talked to Moises,” Sierra tells Football Transfers. “And it’s an honour such an important (manager) talked to him, expressing him his desire for Moises to join Liverpool. But Moises decided that he wanted Chelsea long ago, before Liverpool came in the last days.
“He has been always a Chelsea fan.”
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