Liverpool 'pull plug' on bid to sign 'South America's best young defender' after agent comments

Liverpool are expected to 'pull the plug' on their bid to sign Piero Hincapie in the January transfer window.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with the Ecuadorian defender, who plays his club football for Bayer Leverkusen – currently managed by former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso.

The 21-year-old's representative, Manuel Sierra, recently confirmed Liverpool had expressed an interest in signing the defender during the summer window.

"Liverpool were interested in him [Hincapie], but at that time they chose to invest in the midfield," Sierra told the Futbol sin Cassette YouTube channel, via BolaVIP.

Sierra went on to claim the Merseyside club had held discussions over a January move for Hincapie, claiming it would cost the Premier League club at least €50m (£43.25m) to sign him.

However, Football Insider report that Liverpool are not willing to spend that amount of money in January and will 'pull the plug' on a move for the player.

Hincapie can not only play as a centre-back, but also as a left-back, and was hailed in 2021 as the 'best young defender in Latin America' by Andres Fassi, the president of his former club Talleres.

He looked like fulfilling his potential last season, making 43 appearances in all competitions - scoring one goal and providing one assist - with a number of his appearances coming at left-back.

But he has found his minutes limited in the current campaign under Alonso, making just three appearances in all competitions so far.

Liverpool are in the market for a left-sided centre-back but now look set to explore other options, with Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio said to be on their list of targets.

The Reds are currently fourth in the Premier League following their 2-2 draw against Brighton on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp's side are next in action after the international break against rivals Everton on October 21.

SPORTbible are on WhatsApp! We've launched a dedicated news channel to send you the latest news, features and plenty more directly on WhatsApp and all you need to do to sign up is click through to our one-way broadcast channel here for 'SPORTbible News' to appear in the 'Updates' tab on your WhatsApp.