All eyes are on Chelsea’s Club World Cup commitments, although that has not stopped the transfer rumour mill rumbling on in the background, with further deals seemingly set to follow, following the notable capture of Liam Delap last month.
While the Blues appear to have ended their interest in AC Milan goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, the club’s pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens continues, despite missing out on the Englishman ahead of the previous transfer deadline.
Prior reports have indicated that the 20-year-old has already agreed on a seven-year contract with the Stamford Bridge side, albeit with a club-to-club agreement still yet to be found, amid reports of a €65m (£55m) asking price.
The former Manchester City youth star does appear to be Enzo Maresca’s leading target right now, although further moves could seemingly lie in store, with talk that a new defensive addition could also enter the building.
Latest on Chelsea's bid for a new defender
For all the speculation surrounding attacking additions, it would appear that the west Londoners are also keen to bolster the backline this summer, having previously been in the mix for new Real Madrid man, Dean Huijsen.
A reunion with a certain Marc Guehi has also been mooted, albeit with the Englishman looking more likely to join Arne Slot’s Liverpool, should he decide to leave Crystal Palace in the coming months.
Centre-back thus looks to be a priority position for Chelsea ahead of the start of the new Premier League season, with reports in Spain suggesting that they are now readying an offer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie.
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As per the report, the Blues have ‘launched an ambitious move’ for the 23-year-old defender, having made the versatile left-footer – who can operate at left-back – one of their ‘key targets’.
Despite his €60m (£51m) asking price representing something of an obstacle, the report claims that Chelsea are ‘willing to negotiate’, with the player himself ready to take the next step in his career.
Should that step take him to Stamford Bridge, the 6 foot sensation could look to replicate the success of his compatriot, Moises Caicedo.
Why Chelsea could land their next Caicedo
It’s fair to say that eyebrows were raised when Chelsea forked out a club-record fee of £115m to sign Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion back in 2023, with the Blues edging out Liverpool for the midfielder’s signature.
Despite enduring a “tough” first season by his own admission, the 23-year-old has kicked on and then some since, with teammate Cole Palmer hailing him as the side’s “best player” last month.
Also lauded as the Premier League’s ‘best central midfielder’ by pundit and analyst Adrian Clarke, the former Seagulls star is relishing life under Maresca, having notably made the fifth-most tackles in the top-flight last term.
Hopefully, the signing of his international colleague – who is the same age as Caicedo – can prove just as successful, with Hincapie having been noted as an “Ecuadorian football legend in the making” in his own right, according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Despite being “in the shadow” of the likes of Florian Wirtz at Leverkusen, the £51m man is a “top quality” talent undoubtedly, in the words of Kulig, with it no surprise that he has caught the eye of the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.
Where he particularly excels is in possession, as evidenced by the fact that he ranks in the top 5% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries per 90, while also ranking in the top 16% for progressive passes, as per FBref.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent’s goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.
For comparison, the man he could potentially replace in that left-sided centre-back – Levi Colwill – ranks in just the bottom 33% for progressive carries, as well as in just the top 38% for progressive passes.
Games (starts)
32 (28)
Goals
2
Assists
2
Big chances created
4
Key passes*
0.5
Pass accuracy*
89%
Tackles*
1.6
Interceptions*
1.0
Balls recovered*
3.3
Total duels won*
62%
In a similar manner to Colwill, however, what does set Hincapie apart is how flexible he is at operating as a full-back or more centrally, with Caicedo sharing that versatility having featured as a deep-lying midfielder, or even as an inverted right-back under Maresca to date.
A further benefit is also the wealth of experience that Hincapie has earned thus far despite his relative youth, having made 189 club career appearances at senior level, alongside 46 caps for his country. For comparison, Caicedo has made 193 senior club appearances, alongside 55 caps at international level.
While unlike the latter man and his time at Brighton, the Leverkusen star is yet to be tested in the Premier League, all the signs point to him being a natural fit in Maresca’s side – much like Caicedo has been over the last 12 months or so.
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