Spurs could look to replace Clement Lenglet with Piero Hincapie - journalist

By Jordan Harris

Sky journalist Dharmesh Sheth has told Chris Cowlin that Tottenham Hotspur currently expect Clement Lenglet to not be at the club next season, and have Piero Hincapie as one of their priorities for the summer transfer window.

The spot on the left of the back three has been an issue for Antonio Conte since his arrival. He got some superb performances from Ben Davies last season. But he is naturally a left-back.

After failing to land one of their top targets in the summer, Spurs brought in Lenglet on a season-long loan from Barca. And the Frenchman has been a mainstay of the side in recent weeks.

Tottenham could replace Lenglet with Hincapie

However, it is probably fair to say that he has not set the world alight in North London. And with that, some supporters will probably be hoping that that is one area Tottenham strengthen in one of the coming windows.

Sheth was asked about Spurs’ links with Hincapie. And he explained that the club are expecting to have to replace Lenglet at the end of the season. And the Bayer Leverkusen starlet is one of the names at the top of their wishlist.

“The information I’ve been given is this, you’ve got Clement Lenglet, a left-sided central defender. He’s on a straight loan from Barcelona. I’m not expecting that to be extended in any kind of way, or Tottenham, at this stage, to make that a permanent deal,” he told Chris Cowlin.

“There’s no option for that to happen as it stands. So he will go back to Barcelona. One of the big priorities then will be a left-sided central defender. And Tottenham are already doing their due-diligence as all good football clubs will do.

“One of the players that they are looking at is Piero Hincapie, 20-years-old, left-sided central defender, Bayer Leverkusen, Ecuador international as well. They’ve been looking at him for a while now, is what I’ve been told. And they will make him one of the priority signings in the summer. But Napoli are looking at him as well.”

Tottenham set to replicate brilliance of Romero deal?

Hincapie has been outstanding in the Bundesliga this season. He reads the game superbly, but he is also excellent on the ball. Few defenders in Europe’s top leagues are better at dribbling, according to FBRef.

FBRef picks Cristian Romero as one of the players Hincapie is similar to. And that is an extremely exciting thought if they could find a player just like the Argentinian.

He has been the real success story of the backline over the last 18 months. So there may well be plenty of Spurs supporters following developments concerning the £34 million-rated Hincapie closely.