Piero Hincapie, a highly regarded defender for Bayer Leverkusen, is a target for Liverpool during the upcoming January transfer window.

Manager of the Reds, Jurgen Klopp, has reportedly made the acquisition of a new central defender a key priority and has set his sights on the 21-year-old Hincapie.

The Ecuadorian international was a mainstay in Leverkusen’s starting lineup in the previous campaign, but he is yet to make an appearance this year. His impressive play in 2022–23 season, however, caught the attention of major European clubs.

The 32-year-old Virgil van Dijk cannot maintain his current level of play indefinitely. As both Joel Matip and Joe Gomez have struggled with injuries in recent years, the Reds may be looking at Hincapie as a way to bolster their defense immediately.

Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is performing at a high level once again this year. Featured image by Mark Thompson/Getty Images.

The 21-year-old has the rare ability to play both left and right center back. He’ll get better as he plays more matches. Obviously Klopp can bring out the best in the Ecuadorian defender.

The Reds are reportedly willing to pay €55 million to acquire him. For that price, the young South American would join the ranks of Van Dijk, Darwin Nunez, and Alisson as Liverpool’s sixth most expensive signing in history. This shows how highly regarded Hincapie is by the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

It’s possible that Hincapie will take over permanently.

Due to Ibrahima Konate’s ιnjury, Liverpool’s defense has been under increased strеss recently. Joe Gomez is automatically out of the running for starting at center back due to the unavailability of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

With his experience in the Bundesliga, a premier European league, Hincapie, at age 21, could make an immediate impact while growing into a key player. His athleticism and technical proficiency make him a fascinating addition to Klopp’s system.

It would be a huge boost for Liverpool if they were able to sign Hincapie in the upcoming transfer window. Klopp must evaluate his situation at Anfield and demand defensive depth from the owners in order to compete with teams like Arsenal and Manchester City.