Inter Line Up €30M-Rated Bayer Leverkusen Defender Piero Hincapie As Affordable Alternative To Josko Gvardiol, Italian Media Report | OneFootball

Inter are considering Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie as a possible alternative to RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol should they look to sign a left-sided defender.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that the 21-year-old’s performances for Ecuador at the World Cup in Qatar have marked him out as a more realistic alternative to the Leipzig player for the Nerazzurri.

Gvardiol is a dream for the Nerazzurri, having also been among their targets during the summer transfer window when it looked as though Alessandro Bastoni could be on his way.

However, the price tag for the Croat would likely be prohibitive for Inter, with Chelsea looking to be closing in on a deal, possibly wrapping up an €80 million signing of him in January.

Accordingly, the Nerazzurri are thinking about alternatives who could potentially reinforce the defense with a stylistically similar profile to Bastoni in the event that the 23-year-old were to depart.

Hincapie is left-footed like Bastoni and can proficiently play on the left side of a back three like the former Atalanta and Parma defender.

Inter Sporting Director Piero Ausilio was impressed by what he saw from the Bayer Leverkusen defender in Ecuador’s three matches during the group stage of the World Cup.

The 21-year-old defender would cost around €30 million, meaning that he could be within Inter’s reach should they be in search of a high-quality and young left-sided defender.