Tottenham Hotspur, and sporting director Fabio Paratici by extension, are eyeing a move for Bayer Leverkusen ace Piero Hincapie, according to reports from Calciomercato.

The Lowdown: Conte's ambition...

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte has now tasted his first Premier League defeat of the 2022/23 campaign, and an ambitious serial winner like the Italian will want to get back on track immediately.

Their dismal 3-1 loss in the north London derby on Saturday will have left a sour taste in the mouth, but there's no time to dwell on that result, as a congested autumn campaign presents many upcoming opportunities to bounce back.

Tottenham's calendar could even prove to be tricky given the Champions League games and minimal rest in between, so it isn't unfeasible to think that Conte could want more reinforcements mid-season.

The Latest: Spurs eye Hincapie move...

According to a claim from Italy in the last 48 hours, Spurs appear to eyeing a possible left-sided central defensive addition in Hincapie.

The 21-cap Ecuador international is valued at €25m (£22m), and according to Calciomercato, there is 'interest' from the Lilywhites (and Paratici by proxy).

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The Verdict: Get it done?

South American football expert Tim Vickery has said that Hincapie is 'excellent' for a back three system, an aspect of the player's game which could be attractive to Conte, who frequently adopts that as his preferred formation.

In terms of overall quality, the 20-year-old ranks in Leverkusen's top five for tackles, interceptions and successful clearances per 90 in the Bundesliga (WhoScored) - solid numbers for a player who is still very young.

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The player's reasonable price tag of £22m is also a good reason for Spurs to consider swooping for the defender as Paratici reportedly makes plans ahead of January.