Transfer Talk: Spurs set for double defensive boost

Tottenham are closing in on a double swoop for Bayer Leverkusen centre-half Piero Hincapie and Sporting right-back Pedro Porro.

Antonio Conte has suffered a frustrating start to the January transfer window with Spurs yet to add any reinforcements to the Italian’s first-team squad.

But good news may be just around the corner with The Sun suggesting that a deal for Ecuador international Hincapie, 21, is now firmly on the cards.

The youngster is currently playing under former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso in Germany and forging quite the reputation after impressive displays in the Bundesliga.

With Leverkusen having missed out on the Champions League knockout stages, they are supposedly open-minded on a sale and a bid of around £20million is the reported asking price.

Spurs may even consider an agreement which would see Hincapie loaned back to his current employers until the end of the season.

Meanwhile, their pursuit of Porro has been an ongoing theme of the winter window and the same report suggests Tottenham officials will travel to Portugal next week to continue negotiations.

The Spaniard would bring some much-needed dynamism to Conte’s wing-back options, though the two clubs are yet to agree a fee.

Spurs want to pay around £27m for Porro but Sporting value their 23-year-old prospect at closer to his £37m release clause.

The Premier League side have also enquired about bringing their former academy product Marcus Edwards back to North London, though his current £52m valuation is deemed excessive.

In other news

Noni Madueke is the latest name being linked to big-spending Chelsea, with ESPN reporting a bid of £26.5m has been lodged to bring the PSV starlet, 20, back to English shores.

Liverpool will let midfielder Naby Keita leave the club on a free transfer this summer after failing to agree terms on a new contract, say Football Insider.

The Sun suggest Crystal Palace will look to bring Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher back to Selhurst Park this month, with the 22-year-old falling down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.