Fresh from being crowned Premier League champions, Liverpool have already begun preparing for next season — and AFC Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez has emerged as one of their early targets. However, the deal may not be as straightforward as initially expected.
Kerkez attracting Liverpool’s interest
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The 20-year-old Hungary international has enjoyed an excellent campaign at left-back for Bournemouth, with two goals and six assists in the league. His pace, physicality, and forward-thinking profile have made him one of the Premier League’s most exciting young full-backs.
Liverpool’s interest in Kerkez is no surprise. With Andy Robertson now 31, a long-term plan is being mapped out for succession on the left side of defence. While Robertson remains a consistent starter, the club are keen to gradually introduce a younger option with the upside to develop into a future starter.
Slot’s early plans for left-back evolution
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New head coach Arne Slot is expected to oversee a measured but assertive rebuild this summer. Although Liverpool have just claimed their second league title under this ownership, maintaining dominance will require fresh competition in key areas — and left-back is one of them.
Kostas Tsimikas has played the backup role since arriving in 2020 but has struggled to earn consistent minutes. While he’s proven reliable in rotation, Liverpool may view this summer as the right time to refresh that position.
Slot is understood to favour attacking full-backs who can overlap or underlap aggressively and recover quickly in defensive transition — a profile Kerkez fits naturally.
The complication: Liverpool hesitant over fee
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However, according to The Telegraph, Bournemouth will demand a fee in the region of £40 million for Kerkez — a figure that could complicate Liverpool’s approach.
That price would represent a £25 million profit for Bournemouth just two years after signing him from AZ Alkmaar — a deal ironically overseen by current Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes during his time at the Cherries.
Kerkez is viewed by Liverpool as a development option and likely rotational piece alongside Robertson, not an immediate starter — which makes a high fee harder to justify under the club’s current structure.
Tsimikas sale could create movement
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One potential solution? The sale of Kostas Tsimikas. The Greece international is expected to be made available this summer, with at least three Premier League clubs already expressing interest.
Should Tsimikas depart, the resulting funds could be partially reinvested into the Kerkez deal — especially if Liverpool negotiate structured payments or add-ons. Tsimikas’ desire to seek regular football elsewhere may also align with Liverpool’s squad refresh plans under Slot.
Conclusion
Milos Kerkez is undoubtedly a player who fits Liverpool’s future system under Arne Slot — young, dynamic, and Premier League-tested.
However, unless Bournemouth reduce their valuation or Liverpool recoup funds through player sales, the pursuit may stall. The Reds remain interested, but this one may come down to how much they’re willing to invest in a role that still belongs, for now, to Andy Robertson.
