Liverpool are embarking on a new era under Arne Slot but one Feyenoord star doesn’t seem to think he will be heading to Anfield this summer.

The Reds announced in January that Jurgen Klopp would be leaving the club come the end of the season.

That news hit like a dagger to the heart of Liverpool fans who have completely idolised Klopp since his 2015 arrival.

The task of replacing Klopp is an almost thankless one and after plenty of rumours about Xabi Alonso, Liverpool settled on Arne Slot.

Liverpool transfer news LIVE after Mohamed Salah sale claim and Teun Koopmeiners pole position update	Liverpool transfer news LIVE - Federico Chiesa price tag, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia update, Matthijs de Ligt interest	Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Nico Williams 'preference', Anthony Gordon latest, Murillo green light

Some Premier League fans may not be all that familiar with Slot; his time with Cambuur and AZ didn’t exactly make him a household name.

Slot was a hero at Feyenoord though, winning 98 of his 150 games after arriving in 2021 to become adored – just like Klopp – in Rotterdam.

The Dutchman heads to Anfield with a tricky job ahead of him.

Replacing Klopp will be so difficult and expectation levels are a different beast at Liverpool compared to Feyenoord, so there could be some ups and downs for Slot in the coming months.

Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images

MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES

The natural step after any new manager is appointed is to look at potential signings they could bring in from their previous club.

Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida set tongues wagging in April by watching Liverpool’s clash with West Ham United from the stands.

There have been few other connections between Feyenoord players and Liverpool transfers but some have wondered if David Hancko could be a target.

The Feyenoord defender plays as a centre back in the Netherlands but has operated as a left back for Slovakia at Euro 2024.

Hancko has not only dazzled for Feyenoord but has now turned in superb displays for Slovakia, including shackling Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka on Sunday.

Liverpool don’t have a naturally left-footed centre back in first-team contention and Slot certainly knows Hancko’s game inside and out.

However, Hancko has now told Voetbal International that he doesn’t believe Liverpool are looking for a player in his position.

Hancko does not think that he will be following Slot to Anfield but wished his former boss all the best at Liverpool, hailing him as ‘fantastic’.

Hancko feels that Slot is ‘so special’ as a tactician and has helped him view football completely differently in recent years.

“You always really look forward to training with him,” said Hancko.

And I don’t express that appreciation because I hope that I will go with him to Liverpool, because that is unlikely.

I have spoken to him a few times after the end of the season, but I don’t think they are looking for a player in my position, so I don’t think a transfer to Liverpool will happen, but I wish him the best of luck, he really is a fantastic coach,” he added.

Hancko added that he is interested in a ‘bigger challenge in a bigger league’ and will talk to his agent about a potential transfer with Euro 2024 now out of the way, despite being happy at Feyenoord.

“I can focus more on it now, because now I can put the European Championship aside.

We can talk about that in the next two weeks and then also with Feyenoord.

We’ll see.”

“I’ve said many times that I’m very happy at Feyenoord.

I’ve improved a lot as a player here, but as an athlete you also have to try to experience new things and it would be nice to take on an even bigger challenge in a bigger league,” said Hancko.

Reports from ESPN suggest that Atletico Madrid are in talks to sign Hancko this summer.

Slot has surely at least given thought to signing Hancko, adding depth in multiple positions at the back.

Yet having not even coached his Liverpool players yet, it may be too soon for Slot to be making firm transfer decisions just yet.

If Hancko is still at Feyenoord come August, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Liverpool launch a move after all – but a move to Spain may well be in his immediate future.

Related Topics


For more news relating to West Ham, visit our sister site WHU Latest Live.