Newcastle United’s recent exit from the Champions League has underscored the pressing need for squad enhancement, particularly in the center-back position, where the team has faced challenges following the injury to Sven Botman. Botman played a crucial role in Newcastle’s Champions League qualification last season, contributing to the team’s impressive defensive record of conceding only 33 goals in 38 matches, a feat matched only by treble winners Manchester City.
In the absence of Botman, club captain Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar have stepped up, but the demanding fixture list and the lack of depth behind them have become concerns. In a recent Premier League match against Tottenham, both Lascelles and Schar played the full 90 minutes despite receiving on-field treatment for knocks.
Considering these factors, it seems increasingly likely that manager Eed will prioritize signing a defender in the upcoming winter transfer window. One player who has caught the attention of the Newcastle scouting team is 21-year-old defender Piero Hincapie.
According to German outlet Bild, Newcastle has entered the race to sign Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen, competing with other clubs such as Liverpool, AS Roma, and AC Milan. Hincapie, a talented central defender, has represented Ecuador 30 times, including three appearances in the last winter’s World Cup in Qatar. While his primary position is center-back, he can also provide support at left-back, similar to Dan Burn.
Hincapie began his career in Ecuador with Independiente del Valle, later moving to Argentina with Talleres. His rise to prominence occurred when he joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2021, making 64 league appearances and contributing to the team’s third and sixth-place finishes. Under the management of Xabi Alonso, Hincapie is currently part of a successful team that has achieved its best-ever league start, winning 11 and drawing three of their opening 14 games, maintaining a four-point gap over Bayern Munich.
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