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Chelsea are scouting Ecuador’s World Cup star Piero Hincapie ahead of a potential transfer, according to reports. Hincapie is one of the young stars the Blues could look to sign as Graham Potter seeks to reduce the average age of his Premier League squad.
Hincapie has earned a reputation as one of the best young defenders in Europe. He has starred for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
The 20-year-old moved to Germany after spells in Ecuador and Argentina. Several high-profile clubs are now interested in signing the centre-back and he could move either in January or next summer.
Chelsea scouts are watching the defender’s performances at the World Cup. The talent spotters will be impressed as Ecuador remain unbeaten, but he was carried off in a stretcher in the draw with Netherlands on Friday.
Chelsea boss Graham Potter will dip into the January transfer window market (Image: GETTY IMAGES)
That is according to the Mirror, who claim that Potter wants to sign a new centre-back in the near future. Chelsea understand that the excellent Thiago Silva cannot go on for much longer at nearly 38, and the options aside from the Brazilian are scarce.
Chelsea could be rivalled by top-flight rivals Arsenal and Tottenham, in addition to several other big Champions League clubs. Left-footed centre-backs are in short supply at the elite end of the game and come at a premium price.
Hincapie is one of the most in-demand players who fit that profile. He has enjoyed a remarkable rise from his homeland in Ecuador.
The 23-cap international played for several local teams before making the grade at Independiente del Valle. He then moved to Argentina to play for Talleres.
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Chelsea are watching Ecuador World Cup star Piero Hincapie (Image: GETTY IMAGES)
A move to Europe beckoned, with Leverkusen paying around £6million for his services in the summer of 2021. Just 18 months later, he could be on the move again for a much bigger fee.
The World Cup break came at a good time for Chelsea and head coach Potter, who replaced Thomas Tuchel in September. The West Londoners have not won in the Premier League since October 16 and went into the international tournament having failed to win any of their final five top-flight matches.
Chelsea are expected to be active in the January transfer window despite spending nearly £300m in Todd Boehly’s first summer transfer window. There were eight new arrivals at Stamford Bridge but many of those have underwhelmed.
Potter can also claim that some of them were Tuchel’s signings and that he should be given the opportunity to build a team in his image.