Columbus Crew Eyes Palmeiras Forward to Replace Cucho Hernández | OneFootball

The MLS transfer market is heating up, and Columbus Crew is already eyeing a name to strengthen its attack: José Manuel "Flaco" López, the forward from Palmeiras. The 24-year-old Argentine could be on the Crew's radar to fill the shoes of Cucho Hernández. But does this potential signing actually make sense? If there’s one thing Crew fans have learned over the past few years, it’s that nothing in soccer is a given. The team is riding a solid wave right now, looking to keep chasing titles, but losing a player of Cucho Hernández’s caliber is no small thing.

José Manuel López is definitely a promising forward, no doubt about it. Strong, tall (standing at 6'2"), and with a sharp nose for goal, he caught eyes at Lanús in Argentina before making the move to Palmeiras. But here’s the hitch: he still hasn’t really hit his stride in Brazilian soccer. At Verdão, Flaco has struggled to become a consistent starter and shine like people hoped he would. It’s not that he’s a bad player, far from it.

Looking at the numbers, López doesn’t exactly have mind-blowing stats in Brazil. He never quite managed to establish himself as the focal point of the attack, often being overshadowed by names like Endrick and Rony in the pecking order. But hey, numbers don’t always tell the full story. The truth is, López is a player with huge potential; he just needs to be in the right environment to really explode.

The MLS has turned into a fertile ground for South American players seeking more space and a chance to shine away from the insane pressure of Brazil and Argentina’s big clubs. We’ve seen this play out with a number of names in recent years. American soccer is a bit different from South American soccer. Here, there’s more room for physically strong forwards who know how to work inside the box and can dominate defenders with their presence and positioning. Flaco López has those traits. If he's well-coached and slotted into the right system, he could bring a lot more to the table than he did at Palmeiras. But at the same time, bringing in someone who hasn’t proven they can be “the guy” for the attack is always a gamble. The Crew needs to make sure they’re not just picking up a player for his potential but someone who can deliver right off the bat.

Cucho was quick, technical, and had an incredible attacking presence. He was a forward who moved all over the field, making the team play around him. If López comes in, he’ll have to adapt quickly to the MLS style and fill the shoes of someone who’s already won over the fans. That means the pressure will be sky-high. If López starts poorly, the fans will be vocal, and the Crew could find themselves in a tough spot. But if he settles in and shows he can be the goal scorer that many expected him to be at Palmeiras, this could turn out to be a masterstroke from the front office.

Flaco López has the talent, and the MLS could be the perfect place for him to develop and finally show what he’s capable of. But the team needs a clear plan. You can’t just sign a guy because he “looks promising” and hope he figures it out on his own. The Crew is on the right path, but they need to think twice before making any drastic changes to the squad. López might be an interesting gamble, but the team will need more than just hope, they’ll need a solid plan.