The North Londoners have been expected to compound their defensive depth when the summer transfer window comes around, and Daniel Levy is already exploring options who can help Tottenham Hotspur with quality and depth in that central defensive role; the Lilywhites have been linked with Bayer Leverkusen CB Piero Hincapie, among others, and he could be an interesting choice for the role at N17.
Piero is someone who possesses exceptional potential, and we have seen him develop into a reliable player for his current employers under Xabi Alonso.
If I am to describe him rather briefly, he is a left-footed player who is highly press resistant when it comes to facing consistent building pressure from the opponents, and he is rather calculated and tactical when he shows aggression (not reckless like we have seen Cristian Romero be along the ongoing campaign). And more importantly, he is comfortable playing in a back three as well as in a high defensive line.
Now if Romero is to leave Tottenham given his links with a move away from Hotspur Way, and Levu is looking to replace the Argentine, Hincapie is not your ideal profile who will meet Romero’s attributes, but he brings a more composed left-footed alternative with similar mobility and ball-playing ability.
Let’s do something; let’s compare Hincapie’s traits with those of Cristian Romero:
The first basic difference between the two is how both of them have different natural feet; Romero is a right-footed defender, while Piero has a strong left foot. And (as stated above), while the Argentine is a very aggressive, forward-going defender who is reckless at times, his 23-year-old counterpart is smarter and picks his moments instead.
Both of them are really elite when it comes to over 10–30m recoveries.
Coming to first-phase buildups, Romero is a more frisky option when it comes to decision-making on passes, while the Ecuadorian international is more calculated in where he passes the ball vis-à-vis the opponents’ pressing sequences. See, the thing is Hincapie can draw the press and play around with the press calmly, while Romero is more erratic with these things.
Where can Hincapie tactically fit at Tottenham?
You can play him in a 4-3-3 as well as a 2-3-5 structure where he is well suited to holding a high line and bringing that wide coverage; this goes in line with the ball recovery trait that Ange Postecoglou needs in his backline given the 60m high line that the North Londoners have deployed under the Australian head coach. And he is someone who is known for receiving passes on the half-turn under pressure, and this is where he can evade the press more calmly.
You can also see him stepping into the middle of the park to engage attackers early before releasing in spaces.
He will come in valuable in trying to slow games and make sure it is not as chaotic from a defensive point of view for the North Londoners.
See if Daniel Levy is looking to bring him to N17; it is to be seen how Ange evolves his system because if the structure deployed is aiming towards ball retention and shape control, then Hincapie will end up being a great signing, but if the Australian head coach wants to continue with this duel-driven chaos (like what Spurs have at N17), then the North Londoners may need a more combative CB.
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Author Opinion
You ideally don’t expect Piero Hincapie to replicate Romero’s raw intensity, but then in the 23-year-old the Lilywhites get a tactical organiser who allows the North Londoners to build attacks cleanly and defend transitions with smartness rather than just instincts.
