Liverpool transfer news: agent confirms David Hancko talks

Liverpool have held talks about Feyenoord defender David Hancko, his agent has confirmed. The Reds could be in the market for a centre-back.

It appears Liverpool are considering a move for Slovenian centre-back David Hancko. That's according to his agent, anyway, who claims to have held talks with the Reds and Paris Saint-Germain - as well as others.

Liverpool and PSG were both tentatively linked with the player this week, prompting TNCZ to ask Branislav Jasurek about the interest. Jasurek represents Hancko as a part of FairSport International.

“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 [this month] because Feyenoord is 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.”

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Hancko is a player few will have thought of but this does actually make quite a lot of sense for Liverpool. The Reds will almost certainly want to move for a centre-back in 2024 after Joel Matip's awful injury - and the fact his contract expires this year.

The Slovenian is 26 - older than Liverpool typically move for - and wouldn't block the progress of Jarell Quansah. He's a left-sided centre-back, too, which would ultimately come in handy post-Virgil van Dijk.

Above all, though, Hancko's data is fantastic. Per Fbref, he's one of the best (if not the outright best) on-ball defenders outside of Europe's top five leagues.

His 88 per cent pass success rate is good anyway, let alone combined with the fact he plays more progressive passes than just about any defender outside the top five. He's involved in creating over two shots per 90 minutes, too, which is an extraordinary rate for a centre-back.

Hancko ticks a lot of the right boxes, then, and may well be one for Liverpool fans to keep an eye on in 2024.