Liverpool target makes surprising U-turn after snubbing January move

Tom Weber

• Updated: 10 Feb 2024 11:55 GMT
• 3 min read

The future of Liverpool target David Hancko has just become a bit more confusing.

The Feyenoord centre-back has penned a new long-term deal until 2028 with last season's Eredivisie champions despite his agent claiming last month that he will likely be sold in the summer. The Slovakia international has impressed in the Netherlands and attracted big-name attention in recent months.

Liverpool, who continue their search for a long-term Virgil van Dijk successor, have earmarked Hancko as a potential option. The 26-year-old certainly fits the bill as to what the Reds are looking for given that he is left-footed and can also deputise at left-back if needs must.

In fact, Hancko's agent, Branislav Jasurek, confirmed last month that talks regarding a January move were held with the Anfield club, PSG and many more. "As an agency, we are in contact not only with these two clubs but also with others who are looking into David’s situation," he said.

"I estimate that 80-90% David will stay in Rotterdam [in January] because Feyenoord are fighting for the Champions League and the people at Feyenoord know that David Hancko will be sold even in the summer and maybe better than now."

Hancko still on the market?

However, despite Jasurek's assertion that his client will likely move on in the summer, the fresh deal casts doubt on that. While it is not unusual for a player to sign a new contract before moving on, allowing his club to squeeze as much value out of him as possible, the simple fact is that Hancko has just become a lot more expensive.

The 26-year-old's Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has skyrocketed since he joined Feyenoord in the summer of 2022 for €8.3 million. Between December 2023 and January 2024, his ETV almost doubled, with Hancko now sitting at €22.8m. Given that elite left-footed centre-backs are a rare commodity, Feyenoord will likely demand a fair bit more for his services.

Whether Liverpool will pursue a deal again in the summer remains to be seen. The fact that they do not currently have a sporting director and that Jurgen Klopp is set to depart the club certainly means that no immediate decision on a transfer of any description will be forthcoming anytime soon.