Liverpool have been linked with both Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, and it is easy to see why both names have come up.
Senesi is set to be a free agent this summer, with his Bournemouth contract expiring at the end of June. Van Hecke, meanwhile, has just one year left on his Brighton deal.
They are two Premier League-proven centre-backs, both at useful ages, both ready to step into a bigger squad. But if Liverpool are choosing between them, this is not just about cost, it should come down to profile, upside and who fits best.
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Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke as Liverpool targets
| Marcos Senesi | PL 2025/26 | Jan Paul van Hecke |
| 33 | Appearances | 33 |
| 56 | Tackles | 51 |
| 51 | Interceptions | 38 |
| 0 | Goals | 3 |
| 23 | Chances created | 12 |
| 5 | Assist | 3 |
| 163 | Accurate long balls | 118 |
Senesi is the obvious value play.
At 28, he is more experienced, left-footed and already has a strong Premier League body of work.
His defensive numbers also stand up well. Senesi is among the Premier League leaders for tackles, interceptions and blocks this season in a much-changed Bournemouth defence. The Argentinian spends plenty of time dealing with pressure and generally deals with it well.
On a free transfer, Senesi would be a smart squad-building move and a good stop-gap between the different generations of defenders at Liverpool.
However, Van Hecke looks like the better long-term signing.
The Brighton defender is three years younger, already a leader, and his profile feels closer to the kind of centre-back Liverpool may need for the next cycle. It has been an off-season of sorts from him, not showing what he can be at his best.
If this centre-back signing is green-lit, better go for the player with a few extra years left at the top.
Liverpool have made an approach for Van Hecke only this weekend, seeing an opportunity with a player who looks destined for the door.
Senesi would cost nothing in transfer fee terms, while Brighton would still demand money for Van Hecke. That is a strong point in the Bournemouth defender’s favour, but if Liverpool are asking who is the better fit for the next four or five years, the Dutchman should be the pick.
Senesi makes sense as a clever opportunity, but Van Hecke could realistically be the one to take over from Virgil van Dijk.
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