Liverpool Abandons Pursuit of ‘Emerging South American Defensive Talent’ Following Agent’s Remarks

Liverpool appears to have shifted its focus away from pursuing Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie during the upcoming January transfer window.

For a while now, Liverpool had been prominently associated with the promising 21-year-old, who plies his trade at Bayer Leverkusen, a club overseen by the former Reds midfield maestro Xabi Alonso.

The buzz around Hincapie intensified when his representative, Manuel Sierra, disclosed that Liverpool had exhibited a keen interest in securing the young defender’s services during the summer transfer window. Sierra confirmed this in a conversation with the Futbol sin Cassette YouTube channel, relayed via BolaVIP.

“Liverpool were interested in him [Hincapie], but at that time they chose to invest in the midfield,” Sierra disclosed.

Furthermore, Sierra asserted that discussions had taken place regarding a potential January transfer for Hincapie, estimating that Liverpool would need to allocate a considerable sum, at least €50 million (£43.25 million), to secure his signature.

Nevertheless, the latest information, as reported by Football Insider, indicates that Liverpool is not willing to commit such a significant sum in the January transfer market, and as a result, the club appears poised to abandon its pursuit of Hincapie.

Hincapie’s appeal arises not only from his competence as a central defender but also from his versatility, as he is equally adept at playing in the left-back position. His potential was recognized in 2021 when he was lauded by Andres Fassi, the president of his former club, Talleres, as the ‘best young defender in Latin America’.

During the previous season, Hincapie made a commendable 43 appearances across various competitions, contributing with one goal and an assist. Notably, several of these appearances saw him deployed as a left-back.

However, the ongoing campaign under Xabi Alonso has seen Hincapie’s playing time significantly reduced, as he has featured in just three matches across all competitions thus far.

With Liverpool’s evident interest in securing a left-sided center-back, it now seems likely that they will explore alternative options. Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio is one player rumored to be on Liverpool’s radar.

The Reds currently sit in fourth place in the Premier League, following a 2-2 draw against Brighton on Sunday. Jurgen Klopp’s team will return to action after the international break in a highly anticipated clash against rivals Everton on October 21.