The Dream Gomez Upgrade: Hughes Considering Last-Minute Liverpool Bid for Center-back Dubbed an “Absolute Bēāst”
Liverpool are buzzing with anticipation for Arne Slot’s upcoming Premier League match against Brentford. This will be Anfield’s first match of the season, but sporting director Richard Hughes is primarily focused on the forthcoming week in the transfer market.
With the 2024 summer transfer window nearing its close, Liverpool are currently the only team among Europe’s top seven leagues that has not yet bolstered its first team.
Despite this, Fabrizio Romano has suggested that the Reds might sign one or two new players before the month ends. Slot, who has inherited a talented squad from Jurgen Klopp, is looking to rejuvenate a team that faltered towards the end of the 2023/24 season.
If Joe Gomez is sold, Liverpool will need to find a new defender. The 27-year-old has drawn interest from several Premier League clubs and is valued at £45 million by his current team. With Sepp van den Berg already having completed a £25 million transfer to Brentford, Liverpool might soon announce a new signing.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool are keeping an eye on Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie. The young centre-back has been on the club’s radar for a while.
Hincapie played a crucial role in Leverkusen’s undefeated domestic campaign last year, helping the team win both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles. His acquisition would be a major boost for Slot’s squad.
The 22-year-old Hincapie is reportedly valued at £50 million. However, Liverpool’s inactivity in the transfer market this summer suggests that they have the financial resources to complete such a deal, with departures strengthening their financial position further.
How Piero Hincapie Could Impact Liverpool
FSG’s cautious approach to making high-value bids for players who wouldn’t immediately fit into the starting XI is well-known on Merseyside. However, Hincapie might be an exception to this trend.
Though he may not yet be the finished product and might not immediately displace Ibrahima Konate or Jarell Quansah alongside Virgil van Dijk in central defense, his potential highlights the importance of securing this deal.
| Piero Hincapie vs Liverpool centre-backs (2023/24) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics (*per game) | Hincapie | Van Dijk | Konate | Quansah |
| Matches (starts) | 26 (16) | 36 (36) | 22 (17) | 17 (13) |
| Goals | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Assists | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Clean sheets | 7 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Touches* | 62.4 | 90.8 | 75.5 | 76.5 |
| Pass completion | 92% | 91% | 88% | 89% |
| Ball recoveries* | 3.0 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Tackles* | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Clearances* | 1.6 | 3.9 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Total duels won* | 3.2 (60%) | 5.4 (76%) | 6.0 (66%) | 4.5 (64%) |
| All stats via Sofascore | ||||
He still has much to learn before he can play with the polished, world-class confidence of Van Dijk. However, his ball-playing quality impressed, and he was part of a defense that went the entire season unbeaten, ultimately securing the league trophy.
According to FBref, the Ecuadorian centre-back ranks in the top 9% among his peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists. He is also in the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for passes attempted, the top 14% for progressive passes, the top 1% for progressive carries, and the top 14% for tackles made per 90 minutes.
His qualities align well with Slot’s preferences. He is adept at playing through the lines and driving forward to spark attacking sequences, which complements the Dutch coach’s fast-paced, control-oriented style of football.
Antonio Mango, a journalist and U23 scout, has predicted that he could become “one of the world’s best centre-backs” and described him as an “absolute beast.” Hincapie would be a superb addition to the team and an ideal replacement for Gomez.
Joe Gomez Upgrade
Bayer Leverkusen have continued their strong form under Xabi Alonso, securing the DFL Supercup and clinching a dramatic last-minute victory in their thrilling Bundesliga opener against Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday night.
Hincapie has demonstrated his qualities and consistent growth as one of Europe’s top defenders, having won 80% of his duels in his most recent appearances.
Gomez brings impressive defensive versatility, having played across the backline under Klopp last year. However, Hincapie introduces superior distribution and some of the same talents that Gomez provides.
Additionally, Hincapie has shown competence as a left-back, making notable contributions when playing in that role previously. With Trent Alexander-Arnold and his promising understudy Conor Bradley on the opposite flank, Gomez might not see much playing time in his natural position.
The England international also only managed to win 48% of his ground duels in the Premier League last season. Despite Gomez’s notable improvements after a challenging 2022/23 season—leading to a recall to the national team and praise from writer Joel Rabinowitz for his “renaissance”—he is not irreplaceable.
Furthermore, Hincapie’s 5.14 progressive passes per 90 minutes over the past year surpass Gomez’s 4.88 per 90, highlighting his increased fit within Liverpool’s evolving style of play.
Gomez has been the club’s longest-serving player since his transfer from Charlton Athletic for £3 million in 2015, when he was just a teenager. It might be the right moment to consider parting ways and bringing in some fresh talent.
Hincapie is a highly promising player with untapped potential, and his style complements Slot’s system well. With Liverpool needing at least one new signing to ensure a smooth transition into the new era, acquiring Hincapie seems like a logical choice.
In other Liverpool news, Arne Slot Could Land His Answer to Ugarte with Late Liverpool Move for £51m “Machine”
