A key feature of Newcastle United’s recent rise under Eddie Howe has been the strength of the club’s defensive unit, with the Magpies having appeared almost impenetrable at times this season.
The Tynesiders – who have lost just once in the Premier League this term – currently boast the best defensive record in the division, having conceded just 13 goals in 22 top-flight outings to date.
Even despite that standout record, though, it does appear that the Magpies could be looking to further bolster their backline, amid recent links to Bayer Leverkusen starlet Piero Hincapie.
What’s the latest on Hincapie to Newcastle?
According to a recent report from Football Insider, the St James’ Park outfit – along with Tottenham Hotspur – have been named as potential suitors for the 21-year-old this summer, having reportedly held talks with the Ecuador international last month.
The report suggests that the highly-coveted youngster could now command a fee of around £50m if he is to depart any time soon, having only recently signed a new deal to keep him at the BayArena until 2027.
Could Hincapie be an upgrade on Dan Burn?
Forking out that rather sizeable outlay could well be worth it for Howe and co, with Hincapie having impressed as a result of his form in Germany of late, offering the versatility to feature at both centre-back and left-back.
That flexibility should ensure that the “dominant” asset – as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – could prove a potential upgrade on Dan Burn in the Newcastle side, with the towering Englishman also able to line up in either role on the left of the defence.
Although the 6 foot 6 powerhouse has been a leading figure for Newcastle of late – having started 21 league games this season – the 30-year-old may well find himself usurped from the team if the Leverkusen gem is snapped up any time soon.
That difference in quality is laid bare by the fact that Hincapie has averaged 1.6 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per game in the German top flight this season, while Burn has averaged only 1.1 and 0.9 for those same two metrics respectively.
Equally, while the latter ranks in just the top 50% for interceptions made among full-backs in Europe’s big five leagues, the Ecuador star – who has been tipped by Kulig to be a “future legend” for his country – ranks in the top 10% in that regard.
Hincapie also seems to provide a greater attacking intent from his defensive berth, as he ranks in the top 14% for attempted passes as a marker of his forward-thinking approach, while the current Magpies rock ranks in just the bottom 17% in that regard.
While the Blyth native has been a key figure in the Newcastle squad since his £13m arrival a year ago – proving to be an “absolute steal” according to pundit Frank McAvennie – signing Hincapie could provide Howe’s defence with that extra sprinkling of quality.