Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a blow of their bid to carry Piero Hincapie to north London within the January switch window.
What’s the discuss?
That’s in keeping with Dharmesh Sheth, with the Sky Sports activities journalist revealing in a current put up on Twitter that Chelsea have now joined the race for the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back this winter, with Graham Potter stated to view the 20-year-old as a possible various to RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol.
Sheth went on to state that the Ecuador worldwide, who has additionally been heavily linked with a transfer to Tottenham in current weeks, will probably be obtainable for a determine within the area of €30m (£26m) in January.
Relating to the way forward for the centre-back, the reporter stated: “Chelsea taking a look at Bayer Leverkusen central defender Piero Hincapie as a possible various to RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol. Hincapie performed all of Ecuador’s group video games on the World Cup. Contract runs till 2026. Informed deal for 20-year-old could possibly be finished at €30m.”
“Massive expertise”
Contemplating simply how thrilling a younger prospect Hincapie has very a lot confirmed himself to be over the previous yr, the argument that Antonio Conte merely should do all the things in his energy to beat Chelsea within the race for the 20-year-old’s signature this winter is a particularly simple one to make.
Certainly, in keeping with FBref, the £52.5m-rated expertise at present ranks within the prime 13% of centre-backs in Europe’s large 5 leagues for tackles per 90, along with the highest 8% for blocks and the highest 39% for interceptions – proving simply how sturdy the 20-year-old already is in a defensive capability.
The £19.5k-per-week Ecuadorian can also be extraordinarily spectacular with the ball at his ft, with FBref additionally rating Hincapie within the prime 20% of his positional friends for passes tried per 90, in addition to the highest 4% for dribbles accomplished, the highest 34% for progressive passes, the highest 15% for shot-creating actions and the highest 7% for xAG – xG which follows a move that assists a shot.
These metrics see FBref evaluate the teenager who David Cartlidge dubbed a “big talent” to a number of the most spectacular centre-backs at present enjoying the sport, resembling Tottenham’s personal Cristian Romero, Chelsea stopper Kalidou Koulibaly and Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni.
As such, contemplating his energy on the again, his potential to each play and carry the ball out of defence and the actual fact he’s reported to be obtainable for a charge that’s roughly £26.5m lower than his present market valuation, ought to Conte handle to get a deal over the road for the “tenacious” – within the phrases of Jacek Kulig – Hincapie this winter, it will very a lot symbolize a significant coup for Spurs.