Milos Kerkez is reportedly leaning towards joining Liverpool instead of either of Manchester’s top clubs if he decides to leave Bournemouth this year.
Liverpool FC has shown interest in several left-backs recently, including Patrick Dorgu, El Hadji Malick Diouf, and Antonee Robinson, as potential options for the squad.
The left-back position has been a concern for many LFC fans, with Andy Robertson’s performances declining from the world-class level he once displayed, and Kostas Tsimikas struggling to secure a regular starting spot.
However, there may be positive news for Liverpool in their pursuit of Kerkez.
According to The i Paper, Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs have all reached out to Kerkez’s representatives, and the player is reportedly favoring a move to Anfield.
Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director, who facilitated Kerkez’s transfer to Bournemouth 18 months ago, is said to play a significant role in the player’s preference for joining Liverpool over Manchester rivals.
Although Bournemouth has no intention of selling Kerkez in January, a bid around £50 million could potentially persuade the club to consider a deal.
Signing Kerkez could provide a boost for both Hughes and Liverpool.
After a quiet summer transfer window, an inactive January window, and ongoing contract negotiations for key players like Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Hughes has faced criticism from Reds fans on social media since becoming sporting director last year.
However, if Hughes manages to secure Kerkez’s signature, it would be a significant success and could help win over his critics.
As noted by The Athletic, upgrading the left-back position is a priority for Liverpool, though it’s more likely to happen in the summer than this month.
In the meantime, Arne Slot will rely on Tsimikas to maximize opportunities and hope Robertson regains form closer to his previous levels.
Despite not having particularly eye-catching underlying performance stats (FBref), Kerkez has been widely praised by pundits for his performances for Bournemouth this season, with Jamie Carragher highlighting the 21-year-old’s aggression, reminiscent of Robertson’s early days at Liverpool in 2017.
When Liverpool visit Vitality Stadium on February 1, Kerkez may see it as an opportunity to showcase his abilities for a potential summer move to Anfield — assuming, of course, he hasn’t already been signed by another club before then.
Securing Kerkez ahead of Manchester clubs would be a major achievement for Hughes and could help restore faith among his online critics.