Bayer Leverkusen are already assessing replacements for the highly-rated Piero Hincapie amid transfer interest in the defender from Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The versatile 23-year-old traded South America for Europe in 2021 after joining Leverkusen from Argentinian club Talleres and he's since thrived in the Bundesliga with the reigning champions.
The Ecuador international, who can play left-back and centre-back, has been a mainstay since his arrival, making over 30 appearances in all four seasons with the German side. That includes 43 outings last term as Leverkusen did the domestic double while staying unbeaten.
Hincapie has proven a perfect fit within Xabi Alonso's transformative 3-4-2-1 system at the BayArena and has quite understandably attracted interest from Europe's behemoths as a result of his quality, consistency and potential.
According to Sky Germany, Liverpool and Real Madrid are showing interest in the talented defender and Leverkusen have already identified Lugano's Albian Hajdari as a potential replacement should Hincapie leave this summer.
This is not the first time Liverpool have been touted with a move for Hincapie, who was considered a prime candidate at left-back for the Reds during previous transfer windows when they were using Trent Alexander-Arnold as an inverted right-back. The adaptable South American would have helped cover as a third centre-back on occasions the England international moved centrally.
However, with Arne Slot not using such a system at Anfield, it remains to be seen if Liverpool's interest is as strong. The Reds are expected to target left-back reinforcements over the summer given the disappointing form of Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas, but the more natural Milos Kerkez of Bournemouth appears the leading candidate.
Madrid are the side in greater need of central defensive cover amid another injury-strewn campaign at the back, with the Ecuadorian capable of providing depth in two positions. Of course, there have also been suggestions that current Leverkusen manager Alonso could take over from Carlo Ancelotti in the Spanish capital, which would only fuel transfer links with Hincapie.
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