Turning their attention towards the summer transfer window, Liverpool are now reportedly determined to go all out in the race to sign a defender at the request of manager Arne Slot.
Liverpool transfer news
Whilst the Reds remain on course for the ultimate success on the pitch, there’s still plenty of work to do away from the action. Now into February, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all yet to pen new deals at the club in what will only be a growing concern.
Losing all three star men at the same time would be a disaster for those at Anfield. Losing all of them for free, meanwhile, should be seen as Michael Edwards’ greatest failure.
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What makes matters that much worse is the fact that Liverpool wouldn’t just be losing any three players. They’d be losing three of the very best players in European football. They’d arguably be losing the best player in the world in Salah, the best defender in world football in Van Dijk and the best right-back in Alexander-Arnold. All without profiting.
All good things must come to an end, however, and it seems as though the Reds are beginning to turn their attention towards potential reinforcements.
According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now determined to go all out to sign David Hancko at Arne Slot’s request this summer. The Feyenoord defender worked successfully under the Liverpool boss back in the Netherlands and could now earn himself a reunion.
When it comes to replacing Van Dijk, the Reds undoubtedly have an impossible task on their hands, but signing a player that Slot knows well would certainly be a good start. At 27 years old and at the peak of his powers, Hancko could arrive to instantly ease Liverpool’s concerns in the summer.
"Impressive" Hancko could arrive to replace Van Dijk
If Van Dijk does depart this summer, then Liverpool will have no option than to turn towards the transfer market. As it is, they’re arguably short on one central defender in the face of Joe Gomez’s injury struggles, so to lose Van Dijk now would leave them in need of two readily available defenders and at least one capable of replicating their captain.
That’s where Hancko could be an option. The Feyenoord man knows exactly what is expected in Slot’s system and knows exactly how to win a league title under the Dutchman. Described as a “technical freak” with “impressive” finishing for a centre-back by analyst Ben Mattinson, the 27-year-old is certainly an interesting candidate.
Of course, in Liverpool’s ideal world, Van Dijk stays put and Hancko arrives to hand Slot the ultimate depth at the heart of his backline. But this is far from a dream reality for the Reds, who are closing in on a frustrating farewell to their captain.