Celtic are monitoring Talleres de Cordoba defender Piero Hincapie ahead of a possible summer swoop, according to The Scottish Sun.

The Lowdown: Hincapie profiled

Hincapie is currently away with Ecuador at the Copa America, where he has impressed against Colombia, Venezuela and Peru.

He is valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt and is primarily a centre-back but can also play as a left-back.

The 19-year-old is on just £800-a-week with Talleres de Cordoba and still has over four years remaining on his current contract.

Hincapie, who stands at 6ft, made his national debut earlier this month and has turned out 25 times at club level in his senior career.

According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic’s search for defensive reinforcements has led them to the major South American competition.

The Hoops are monitoring Hincapie’s progress, however, he has also been scouted by some huge European clubs including AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Verdict: Hincapie and Vuskovic?

Another 19-year-old centre-back linked with a move to Celtic is Hadjuk Split’s Mario Vuskovic.

It remains to be seen if the Hoops are after just one or both, but should it be the latter, Celtic could be looking to build for the future.

If the pair arrive, Ange Postecoglou could have Hincapie, Vuskovic, Stephen Welsh and Christopher Jullien as centre-back options ahead of the new season, with Kris Ajer wanting to leave this summer.

The centre-back quartet would have an average age of just under 22 (21.75), so should deals for the teenage pair materialise and prove successful, Postecoglou may have solved the club’s defensive issues for the long term.

In other news: Alan Nixon shares Aaron Hickey to Celtic update with telling 6-word admission, find out more here.