Tottenham Hotspur have identified Piero Hincapie as another target for Antonio Conte’s defensive rebuild, while Liverpool are looking into new deals for four players but face difficulty with one in particular – all according to Sunday’s transfer gossip.
CONTE HIGHLIGHTS HINCAPIE ON TOTTENHAM WISH-LIST
Antonio Conte has now turned his attention to Piero Hincapie as someone whom Tottenham could sign as a left-sided centre-back.
That’s according to The Sun, who have also established how much it may cost for Spurs to sign the Bayer Leverkusen man.
Tottenham have already acquired Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma this summer. They want more additions to appease Conte after he led them back into the Champions League.
One key area he wants to strengthen is the left-hand side of his back three. Natural full-back Ben Davies has generally played there for him so far, but he may want a more specialist option.
Having been unable to secure a reunion with Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni, Conte is now looking at Hincapie, The Sun claim.
The Ecuador international enjoyed his first season in Europe with Bayer Leverkusen in 2021-22. He has made 33 appearances for the German club, who came third in the Bundesliga, so far.
Although he is under contract there until 2026, Leverkusen could now be bracing themselves for interest in the 20-year-old.
The report claims that Hincapie’s price tag stands at £34m. Tellingly, Leverkusen are expecting to receive offers for his services this summer.
There is a feeling the Premier League may possess a certain pull for the South American. Only time will tell, though, if Tottenham are able to complete a deal.
WARD EXPLORING FOUR LIVERPOOL CONTRACTS
While Tottenham are looking likely to be busy throughout the summer transfer window, one club who seem to have got the bulk of their business done is Liverpool.
They have already brought in Fabio Carvalho and Darwin Nunez, and are on the verge of adding Calvin Ramsay. After that, they should delay their pursuit of a new midfielder until 2023.
With that in mind, they can turn their focus to tying down the existing players they want to keep. And according to the Sunday Mirror, there are four squad members in line for new deals.
Liverpool supposedly want to negotiate terms with Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota, Naby Keita and Harvey Elliott.
Of the quartet, the toughest to persuade to stay will be Gomez. The defender’s gametime has decreased significantly since his return from injury, unlike Virgil van Dijk or Joel Matip.
Gomez, whose current deal is due to expire in 2024, wants assurances over his importance to Jurgen Klopp before making any new commitment.
Sporting director Julian Ward is said to be aware of Gomez’s frustration, yet wants to remind him that van Dijk and Matip are both 30, so he could still have a big long-term future at Anfield.
Meanwhile, the contracts of Keita, Jota and Elliott are due to run until 2023, 2025 and 2026 respectively.
BRIGHTON BATTLE FOR NEW DEFENDER
Further down the Premier League table, Brighton have seen a couple of their key players targeted by big clubs this summer. Bissouma has gone to Spurs, while Marc Cucurella is wanted by Manchester City.
They will be keen to keep making their own additions to the squad, though. In that regard, the Daily Star are naming them as contenders for Olympiacos centre-back Pape Abou Cisse.
After playing in Greece since 2017 (except for a brief loan spell in France with Saint-Etienne in 2021), Cisse could be ready to head to England.
The Star suggest Brighton are interested in a deal for the Senegal international, who would cost £15m.
Cisse could have other options to consider, though. Watford are keen ahead of their drop down to the Championship; elsewhere, Nice or Rennes could take him back to French football.
The 26-year-old is tied down to Olympiacos for another two seasons. Having attracted plenty of interest from elsewhere, though, he could be on the move this summer.
