Liverpool monitoring Piero Hincapie who is keen on Bayer Leverkusen exit

According to Sky Sport Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie "is not happy as a substitute" at BayArena and is "open for a new challenge in winter as he wants to play regularly" amidst strong links to Liverpool.

Things have been going fine for the Reds lately, with Jurgen Klopp's side sitting top of the Premier League and wiping away the bleak memories of last term. Injuries played a big part in their down season in 2022/23, and unfortunately, a few setbacks have started emerging this time around as well, not least to Joel Matip, whose existing contract is expiring at the end of the season.

The 32-year-old suffered ACL damage during the 4-3 win at home to Fulham earlier this month, and having undergone surgery on the problem, he's set to miss the rest of the season.

Matip's injury blow has left Klopp with just Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, and Joe Gomez to call upon as established centre-back options, while Jarell Quansah is fine to be used at times but perhaps not yet experienced enough to enjoy a long run in the side.

With that in mind, Liverpool may be tempted back into the market for a new defender, having been searching for a left-footed centre-back to add to the squad with the pursuit of Chelsea's Levi Colwill, and Hincapie certainly fits the bill.

Hincapie's name, in particular, keeps getting floated about as an option—one who has been seen as a transfer target for Liverpool in the past—and his reported £60 million release clause could possibly even look like a steal further down the line, such is his ceiling as a player.

Minutes under Xabi Alonso in the German top-flight have admittedly been in short supply for the Ecuador international this season, only starting two Bundesliga matches, but he is someone who the Reds should look to snap up.

The fact that he can also play at left-back is an extra bonus, meaning he could slot straight in and provide cover for both Van Dijk and Andy Robertson. The 21-year-old himself wants to leave Bayer due to the limited playing time he has received this season.

With the defender's contract expiring in the summer of 2027, Bayer are not particularly eager to release the defender, though, as both starting centre-backs Odilon Kossounou and Edmond Tapsoba will leave for AFCON in January, with the club in a hotly-contested Bundesliga title race with Bayern Munich.