Liverpool are in the market for a new centre-back during the summer transfer window.
The Reds could do with adding some quality to their back line after losing Joel Matip at the end of the season.
The strongest links have so far come for Leny Yoro, the 18-year-old Lille defender. However with Yoro in Real Madrid’s sights as well, it seems unlikely that he’ll end up at Anfield.
As a result, Liverpool will have to look at other targets. One could be Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has given an update into a transfer for Calafiori on Wednesday morning.
The Italian has been impressive at Euro 2024 for Italy. However, he isn’t the only Liverpool-linked defender who has caught the eye in Germany.
Liverpool told David Hancko is ready to join
It remains to be seen whether Arne Slot will bring in just the one new defender this summer. With doubts surrounding Virgil van Dijk’s immediate future, maybe they’ll need two.
If it does end up being just a single addition, then maybe Slot would be wise to stick with a player he already knows well.
Feyenoord’s David Hancko has been linked with Liverpool after an excellent two seasons under Slot in Rotterdam.
Hancko is reportedly available for less than £30m this summer and as his performance for Slovakia against Belgium on Monday showed, would be a good addition for the Reds.
READ MORE: It’s obvious why David Hancko could be Arne Slot’s first signing in charge of Liverpool
That feeling has now been echoed by former Netherlands international Tim de Cler. Speaking to ESPN via Dutch outlet Soccer News, De Cler claimed that Hancko would ‘easily’ be good enough to play for Liverpool.
“He’s so stable and can do anything,” raved the pundit. “I just think he’s a really top defender all-round.
“If he makes it to the next round [of the Euros], and that chance is quite high, his market value will also increase. More and more clubs are getting interested. And they were already there.
“I think he can easily handle a club just below the top six in Europe. I’m talking about a club like Atletico Madrid or Liverpool. He can certainly handle that.”
Will Liverpool sign David Hancko?
Hancko was indeed very good for Slovakia during their surprise win over Belgium.
To those who have been watching Slot’s Feyenoord, that won’t have come as a surprise at all. The big defender was a cornerstone of the Liverpool head coach’s team.
It’s also true that Hancko is a big Liverpool fan. He surely would not need much persuading and is available at a reasonable price.
Having said all of that though, we just don’t see Hancko arriving at Anfield this summer.
The former Sparta Prague stopper will turn 27 later this year. Rightly or wrongly, we think that’s simply too old for what FSG are looking for in the market.
There’s a chance that Hancko could be brought in as cover for the defence, but £30m is too much to pay for a third-choice centre-back. We don’t think this one will happen.