Everton and Liverpool in transfer battle for ‘world class’ £29m player

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The Friedkin Group are preparing to overhaul Everton’s squad in the summer transfer window.

David Moyes is set to be backed with a substantial budget as the American investors aim to return Everton to Europe.

The Friedkin’s want to restructure the recruitment team, too, with Kevin Thelwell due to leave Goodison Park.

Soon to be CEO Angus Kinnear could appoint Leeds United’s Nicky Hammond to replace Thelwell, whilst highly-rated talent spotter Gary Penrice is also being mooted with a move to Merseyside.

With all that going on behind the scenes, Everton’s current recruitment team are drawing up a list of targets.

And, with that said, it’s just emerged that the Toffees have now made an enquiry to sign a talented defender on the continent, who Liverpool are also eyeing.

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Everton and Liverpool want to sign Feyenoord’s David Hancko

Everton are in the market for a centre-back this summer, with Jarrad Branthwaite considering a transfer away from Goodison.

The Toffees are eyeing Maxime Esteve after his impressive season in the Championship with league leaders Burnley.

And now, according to Santi Aouna, Everton have added David Hancko to their shortlist, having made an enquiry to Feyenoord.

Hancko has caught the eye in recent years after first rising to prominence under now Liverpool manager Arne Slot.

Slot worked with the 27-year-old at Feyenoord and is keen to bring him to Anfield this summer, as per Dutch outlet VI.

So, it appears the two Merseyside clubs are the leading contenders to land Hancko’s signature and will have to battle it out.

Liverpool hold the cards to sign Hancko

Hancko, who has been labelled as ‘world class’ by Diederik de Groot, is much more likely to join the red side of Merseryside, given his ties to Slot.

And, according to his wife Kristyna Pliskova, the 50-cap Slovakia international has dreamed of joining Liverpool since he was a child.

“Liverpool has been David’s dream club since he was a child,” Pliskova told Idnes. “And to be there with coach Arne Slot, whom he admires, would be a real treat.

“But, at the same time, we all know that he is not the youngest and not the cheapest.”