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Arne Slot favourite prefers Madrid switch over Liverpool transfer

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By Rohan Sengupta

Liverpool have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Feyenoord defender David Hancko

Liverpool could be at the risk of missing out on one of their summer transfer targets David Hancko, after the player’s agent Branislav Jasurek confirmed Atletico Madrid’s huge interest in landing his signature, as quoted from his interview with Slovakian publication RTVS (h/t The Express).

David Hancko, 26, has emerged as a target for the Reds after working under their new head coach Arne Slot for two seasons at Feyenoord. Signed for a paltry €6 million from Sparta Prague in 2022, the defender helped Feyenoord win the Eredivisie title in the 2022-23 season and the KNVB Cup last term.

The 26-year-old has seen his stock rise at the ongoing 2024 Euros, delivering an eye-catching display in Slovakia’s 1-0 shock win over Belgium in their opening group-stage encounter. This has further driven Liverpool’s interest in David Hancko, although Branislav Jasurek admits his client wants to join Atletico Madrid.

“I have to say that, of all the clubs that are currently interested in David, Atletico is in first place for us,” Jasurek told Slovakian publication RTVS (h/t The Express).

“Others are more like conversations. Some are friendly because we’ve known each other for a long time. Some are new. At this point, nothing has come up that David is thinking about it more than Atletico. The second thing is that it is not yet a completed transfer.

“Both David and I like (the idea of joining Diego Simeone’s side). But they will decide in Feyenoord.”

Liverpool have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Feyenoord defender David Hancko.
Arne Slot wants to add a left-sided central defender to his Liverpool squad this summer. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Hancko is a boyhood Liverpool fan and has previously admitted playing in the Premier League as his dream, so there definitely appears to be an opportunity for the Merseyside giants to swoop if we are truly interested in him.

With Arne Slot prioritising the signing of a left-sided centre-back to partner Virgil van Dijk next season and the Slovakia international fitting the bill perfectly, it would appear to be in the Reds’ recruitment team’s best interests to move swiftly to try and bag his services. Going by Jasurek’s latest comments, there is still time for Liverpool to intensify their efforts in beating Atletico Madrid to Hancko’s signature.

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Nonetheless, Hancko has set his heart on a move to Atletico which means Liverpool must do something tangible to lure him to Anfield.