Liverpool manager Arne Slot is reportedly keeping a close eye on a former player of his, David Hancko, ahead of a potential move to Anfield.
The squad available to Slot is filled with world-class talents and promising youngsters but the summer transfer window ahead promises to shake things up as things stand.
If nothing changes, Liverpool will lose Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah on free transfers when their contracts expire while Caoimhin Kelleher is also expected to leave in search of a guaranteed starting role.
If van Dijk leaves, the Reds will lose their captain and the best centre-back in the world in one fell move. It would be disastrous and given he’s head and shoulders above every central defender on the planet, there is no suitable replacement.
Reports suggest that if van Dijk leaves, Arne Slot could be tempted into signing his Feyenoord centre-back, David Hancko.
Liverpool considering David Hancko move to replace Virgil van Dijk
According to an exclusive from Caught Offside, Liverpool are “closely monitoring” David Hancko. A number of elite sides are said to be positioning themselves for a summer tussle to sign the 27-year-old.
Hancko has yet to make a decision on where his future lies but Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Juventus would be interested in making a move to recruit him.
Chelsea and Tottenham reportedly explored a January transfer but nothing came to pass while it’s said that Liverpool’s interest in Hancko hinges solely on whether van Dijk signs a new deal with the Reds.
Van Dijk is irreplaceable but Hancko is also not the right replacement
Hancko is a fine player but not the player you sign to replace the best defender in the world.
There may not be a perfect replacement for van Dijk but Liverpool need to be ambitious if they are going to allow the Dutchman to leave for free.
One stat proves this.
Hancko ranks in the 99th percentile for aerial duels lost. Van Dijk on the other hand, ranks in the 99th percentile for percentage (77.4%) of aerials won.
It would be a huge drop in class to go from van Dijk to Hancko.
Liverpool need to do everything possible to retain van Dijk’s services otherwise they face a drastic change in defensive quality.
