Juventus are actively seeking defensive reinforcements for the January transfer window. Injuries to key players Bremer and Cabal have forced Cristiano Giuntoli to re-enter the market, aiming to provide coach Thiago Motta with at least one, if not two, new defenders.
Calciomercato report that while young Portuguese talent Antonio Silva from Benfica remains on the radar, a familiar face from Italian Serie A has caught the attention of Juventus: 27-year-old Slovakian defender David Hancko, who just celebrated his birthday.
Hancko’s journey in Italian football began when Fiorentina acquired him from MSK Zilina for €3.8 million in the summer of 2018. After a year, he was loaned to Sparta Prague for two seasons before being sold permanently to the Czech club for €2.5 million. In the summer of 2022, Sparta Prague then sold him to Feyenoord for €8.3 million, where he is currently under contract until June 2028.
Feyenoord now values Hancko at a minimum of €30 million, having already rebuffed an approach from Atletico Madrid last summer. Juventus prefers Hancko over his compatriot Milan Skriniar for several reasons. Hancko is two years younger and commands a significantly lower salary compared to the former Inter player, who earns nearly €10 million net per year including bonuses at Paris Saint-Germain.
Another advantage Hancko brings is his versatility. In addition to his primary role as a centre-back, he can also operate effectively on the left side of defence, providing Juventus with valuable tactical flexibility.
