Juventus have not abandoned their pursuit of David Hancko, merely postponed it. The Bianconeri have effectively reserved the Slovakian defender for the upcoming summer transfer window, with plans to potentially secure his signature even earlier. Specifically, Juventus aim to capitalize on a special FIFA transfer window available in the first ten days of June for teams participating in the Club World Cup.
Tuttosport report that the Turin club is prepared to offer 22-23 million euros plus bonuses to pry Hancko away from Feyenoord. The Dutch side resisted Juventus’ advances in January, having already sold Santiago Gimenez to Milan for 32 million euros plus 3 million in bonuses. Feyenoord’s coach, Brian Priske, had identified Hancko as a crucial player to retain at the start of the winter transfer window.
Juventus’ sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli had to pivot to other options, including Renato Veiga and Lloyd Kelly, to bolster the team’s defence. However, Hancko remains at the top of manager Thiago Motta’s defensive wishlist, largely due to his versatility. The 27-year-old can play both as a central defender, where he has excelled in recent seasons, and as a left-back.
This flexibility could prove crucial, especially if Manchester City renews their interest in Andrea Cambiaso during the summer. Giuntoli has maintained contact with Hancko’s representatives throughout this period, despite the January move not materializing.
Juventus and Hancko’s camp have already drafted an agreement for a five-year contract worth 2.5 million euros per season plus bonuses. This understanding was reached a couple of months ago, following a meeting in Turin after a Champions League match between Juventus and Manchester City.
Hancko has shown his commitment to the potential move by remaining cool towards interest from a Premier League club in late January. The player seems intent on waiting for Juventus, who plan to re-engage with Feyenoord in the coming weeks to set up the transfer for June.
The Old Lady are keen to finalize the deal as soon as possible to avoid any potential complications or rival bids. With both parties seemingly aligned, David Hancko and Juventus appear to be heading towards a summer union, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
