Leverkusen interested in reuniting Ecuadorian and Independiente teammates Hincapie and Plata?
A German Bundesliga club is rumored to be interested in acquiring Ecuadorian right-back Gonzalo Plata. According to the Portuguese daily "Record" that club is Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
The Spanish language twitter account of the German club, intentionally or not, added fuel to these rumors by posting a picture of Plata next to his national team counterpart Piero Hincapie.
Piero Hincapie of Bayer 04 Leverkusen has just completed a rather impressive league campaign of his own. Though naturally a center-halve by trade, the 20-year-old has been used at the left-back role to much positive effect. Over on the right-hand side of defense, however, Gerardo Seoane's Werkself have had difficulty coping with multiple injuries at the right-back position.
The Spanish language twitter account of the German club, intentionally or not, added fuel to these rumors by posting a picture of Plata next to his national team counterpart Piero Hincapie.
Might it be the case that Germany's red company team are considering bringing in another Ecuadorian to help out on the right? The possibility certainly makes sense. Journalist María José Flores of Ecuadorian broadcaster "TC Televisión" speculated that the Bundesliga club interested in Sporting CP's Gonzalo Plata might be Bayer in a midweek tweet.
Plata, who can play right-back and also higher up on the wing, just completed a very successful season on loan at Real Valladolid. The 21-year-old amassed 11 scorer points in the Spanish Segunda. With departures of Paulinho and possibly Moussa Diaby looming, Plata counts as precisely the type of versatile player die Werkself could use right-hand side.
The scorer of five goals for the Ecuadorian national team could be available for around €10 million; something a well-financed club such as Leverkusen would have little trouble paying. Reuniting Plata with Hincapie would not merely count as a move that puts two "La Tri" teammates on the same team.
The pair also share a common youth academy heritage in the form of a rise through the C.S.D. Independiente del Valle youth ranks.
Un club alemán🇩🇪 está muy interesado en Gonzalo Plata para la próxima temporada ¿Será que su amistad con Piero lo acercará a la Bundesliga? 👀
— María José Flores M (@majofloresm) June 16, 2022
Piero #Hincapié ya se encuentra de vacaciones, ¿esta foto les da una idea de lo que puede estar comiendo?🦁💭 pic.twitter.com/uQX2cynrPK
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_es) June 16, 2022