45m

Liverpool advised to pay £45m to signal Premier League defender

Liverpool are actively exploring choices at left again forward of a pivotal summer time of transition—and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez has emerged as a reputable goal. The 21-year-old Hungarian worldwide is excessive on the membership’s listing of potential reinforcements, with reporting that Bournemouth have set a valuation of £45 million for the highly-rated defender.

Kerkez has impressed throughout his debut Premier League marketing campaign, delivering two objectives and 6 assists in a aspect lauded for its attacking ambition below Andoni Iraola. With Andy Robertson turning 31 in March and Konstantinos Tsimikas approaching 29, Liverpool are eager to inject youth and dynamism into their left-sided choices.

Money Solely as Bournemouth Maintain Agency

Regardless of Liverpool’s curiosity, Bournemouth are clear of their stance. The report states that the south coast membership “wouldn’t be serious about Caoimhin Kelleher getting used as a makeweight,” as an alternative preferring a straight money deal ought to Kerkez depart.

Picture: IMAGO

Kerkez nonetheless has three years left on his contract and was signed for £15.5 million from AZ Alkmaar, the place he had an impressive 2022–23 season. That transfer was orchestrated by Richard Hughes—now Liverpool’s sporting director—which provides one other layer of intrigue to this potential reunion.

Succession Planning at Anfield

The broader technique at Anfield factors towards succession planning. Liverpool are getting ready for a brand new period below Arne Slot, and reinforcing in key areas will probably be a precedence. Kerkez suits the mould: younger, progressive, and Premier League-proven.

Picture: IMAGO

Whereas no formal bid has been lodged, Liverpool’s curiosity is real. With different elite European golf equipment additionally monitoring the Hungarian—together with Actual Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea—the competitors might drive up the worth.

Bournemouth’s Evolving Mannequin

Bournemouth stay in a robust monetary place. As The Occasions notes, they’re “in a robust place to adjust to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Guidelines” and sit inside touching distance of European qualification.

Commercial

Chairman Invoice Foley has publicly acknowledged that he won’t stand in the way in which of gamers searching for strikes up the footballing ladder, aligning with the membership’s mannequin to develop and promote expertise. Alongside Kerkez, 19-year-old Dean Huijsen—on mortgage from Juventus—can be attracting main consideration, with a £50m launch clause in his contract.

Picture IMAGO

Our View – EPL Index Evaluation

For  Liverpool supporters, that is precisely the kind of hyperlink you wish to see. A younger, athletic left again already holding his personal within the Premier League, with room to develop and a technical ceiling nonetheless untapped? Kerkez ticks lots of bins.

Commercial

It’s no secret that Andy Robertson, whereas nonetheless dependable, is not the relentless overlapping drive of two or three years in the past. And whereas Tsimikas has been a good deputy, he hasn’t actually satisfied as a long-term inheritor.

What stands out about Kerkez is the mixture of aggression and final-third high quality. Six assists in a mid-table aspect isn’t any small feat, and his attacking output has been constant since his AZ days. Add to that his age and flexibility, and you may see why Liverpool’s data-driven recruitment would have an interest.

The £45m charge feels steep—however solely by historic requirements. If Liverpool imagine Kerkez might be a part of the workforce for 5 or 6 seasons, it rapidly begins to appear like good funding, particularly with Richard Hughes probably championing the transfer from inside.