Bournemouth Eyeing £29m Move for 20-year-old Premier League Star who will be perfect replacement for Kerkez
Liverpool FC, under the guidance of Arne Slot, are keenly observing Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez as they plan to bolster their left-back options. This move reflects a strategic vision for the team’s future, particularly with the aging of current players in this role.
At the heart of Liverpool’s interest is Milos Kerkez, a 20-year-old Hungarian international, who has shown considerable promise in the Premier League. Having joined Bournemouth in 2023 from AZ Alkmaar for €17.9 million, Kerkez has been under continual scrutiny by Liverpool’s recruitment team. “The Reds are smart in their recruitment plans but have a list which includes one name that continues to come up again and again,” as per sources at TEAMtalk. This highlights the focused approach Liverpool is taking towards ensuring a solid future for their squad.
Andrew Robertson, currently in his 30s, and Kostas Tsimikas, who seemingly isn’t viewed as the long-term answer, are presently Liverpool’s main options for left-back. This makes the pursuit of a young talent like Kerkez, who also brings Premier League experience despite his young age, a logical step.
Liverpool is not alone in their interest. Manchester United and Chelsea are also reportedly keeping tabs on Kerkez, with further attention from major clubs in the Bundesliga and Serie A. This burgeoning interest underscores the defender’s burgeoning reputation across top European clubs. Despite Bournemouth’s resistance to sell in the recent transfer window, the competitive interest suggests that securing Kerkez’s services could require significant investment, likely upwards of £40 million as indicated during the last summer.
Beyond the left-back position, Liverpool are reportedly looking to strengthen several areas within their squad. According to TEAMtalk, Xavi Simons and Martin Zubimendi are also on the radar, with potential departures like Mohamed Salah’s likely exit further emphasizing the need for strategic reinforcements.
Kerkez’s adaptation to the Premier League has been noteworthy. “He is slowly developing into a more useful asset in the Premier League compared to his statistics in the Netherlands, particularly defensively,” notes TEAMtalk. With 2.15 tackles per 90 minutes in his debut Premier League season compared to 1.82 in his last at Eredivisie, Kerkez is showing improvements that align with Liverpool’s style of play, which favours attacking full-backs.
Despite these improvements, Liverpool would be looking for more advancements in his attacking contributions before making a definitive move, given their tactical setup that heavily relies on full-backs in offensive roles.
The performance data of Milos Kerkez over the past year, as presented by Fbref, offers a comprehensive view of his contributions on the field. Positioned within the percentile of full-backs, the radar chart encapsulates various dimensions of his game across 1,872 minutes of play.
Kerkez exhibits notable strengths in defensive metrics, which is immediately clear from his high percentile in blocks (95th) and clearances (71st). These figures suggest a robust defensive presence, likely making him an attractive prospect for teams like Liverpool, who value a solid backline combined with the ability to transition into attack.
