Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid face Tottenham battle in race for 20-year-old central defender
Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur could be set to battle it out for the signing of Bayer Leverkusen and Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie.
This claim comes from Ryan Taylor of the Express, who states that both Atleti and Tottenham are already tracking the 20-year-old defender.
Hincapie signed for Leverkusen in the summer of 2021 and has become one of the top defensive prospects in the Bundesliga. Currently representing Ecuador at the FIFA World Cup 2022, the centre-half put in a strong display against hosts Qatar on the opening day.
The young defender’s progress has seemingly caught the attention of Atletico Madrid, who have been far from their best at the back this season and are seeking reinforcements either in January or in the summer.
Felipe is expected to leave the club in the near future while Mario Hermoso has also struggled to make an impact. A player like Hincapie with his all-round abilities and immense potential at such a young age, could be an exciting addition.
However, Tottenham Hotspur could rival the Rojiblancos in the race to sign Hincapie. The Premier League giants had considered signing the 20-year-old defender this past summer as well, but ultimately settled on a loan move for Barcelona’s Clement Lenglet.
While Spurs have an option to sign him permanently, it is not certain that they would consider that possibility considering that the French ace has not entirely convinced during his time in North London.
Hincapie is contracted with Leverkusen until the summer of 2026 and the Bundesliga giants would likely demand a significant fee from suitors if they do indeed decide to sell the Ecuadorian international.
There is no doubt that Atletico Madrid are bracing themselves for a busy summer ahead as they look to address the future of some of their star players. One of them is Saul Niguez, who has fallen out of favour under Diego Simeone and could leave the club.
A recent report from Mundo Deportivo has offered an update on the future of the Spaniard, suggesting that the player has once again become a market attraction.
The versatile star was on loan at Chelsea last season, but his spell at Stamford Bridge was far from ideal, as he featured in less than 500 minutes of league football. He returned to Atletico Madrid in the summer, and even though he wanted to leave the club, a move did not materialise.
Saul was even linked with a move away from Atleti in January. But Valencia, who were interested in him at the time, could not afford the deal, particularly because of the player’s salary and transfer fees.
The report from Mundo Deportivo states that Valencia have retained their interest in the player. But in addition to Los Che, Saul has been targeted by two other Spanish teams in the form of Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla.
Rayo have expressed the desire to sign Saul in the coming season. But they are likely to face economic difficulties in funding a move for the midfielder. The same can be said for Sevilla.
Saul’s current contract at Atletico Madrid expires in 2026, a deal that was agreed when the player was at his peak. But the long contract has now come back to haunt Atleti, as they desperately look to get rid of the Spanish international.
With his suitors likely to face financial trouble in weighing up a move, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Saul in the coming summer.
Saul is not the only Atletico Madrid player facing an uncertain future, with Axel Witsel’s father also hinting at a possible exit recently.
