David Hancko played under Arne Slot at Feyenoord and was keen on joining his former boss at Liverpool earlier this summer but the Dutchman is said to have quickly poured cold water on the idea
Feyenoord defender David Hancko has revealed he was shut down by former boss Arne Slot when the pair discussed the possibility of a reunion at Liverpool earlier this summer.
Slovakian international Hancko, who recently netted a late equaliser in Feyenoord’s dramatic Champions League comeback at Manchester City last week, was keen on the idea of swapping Rotterdam for Merseyside as he’s a self-confessed Liverpool fan.
However, speaking on the Slovakian FA’s SFZ podcast, the 26-year-old admitted he was respectfully told by Slot that a transfer was off the table.
Hancko said: “I was in contact with the coach, but he immediately told me that it was not possible. Liverpool have a certain transfer philosophy. Age was one issue, the other was price. Both factors were negative for me.”
The versatile defender, who can play at centre-back or left-back, was in the hunt for a move at the end of last season after impressing at Euro 2024.
Atletico Madrid made two bids for his services, each of which fell notably short of Feyenoord’s £33million (€40m) asking price.
Liverpool were monitoring the market for centre-backs but the Reds oversaw a relatively quiet transfer window, only signing Federico Chiesa from Juventus and Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who joins the club next summer.
Hancko won the 2022-23 Eredivisie title under Slot at Feyenoord and also lifted the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield during his time working under the high-flying Liverpool boss.
But back in February, he signed a new long-term contract with the Dutch outfit that will keep him at the club until 2028.
He recently offered a glowing review of Slot after starring in Feyenoord’s 3-3 draw at City, stating: “I think that in three years he will be among the best coaches in the world.
“I can see that happening, because I know what he did with us and now he has the biggest platform to show that.
I have a lot of confidence in him and his staff, and I don’t say that because I hope to go with him to Liverpool, because that is unlikely. But I wish him the best of luck, he really is a fantastic coach.”
Liverpool are the Premier League’s early-season pace-setters and have raced into a nine-point lead at the top-flight summit.
Significantly, they are now 11 points clear of champions City following their 2-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s side at Anfield last weekend. Arsenal are now their closest competitors after the Gunners won 5-2 at West Ham on Saturday.
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