In Summary:
- Liverpool has agreed to a £40 million deal for 21-year-old Hungarian left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, making him a key new defender.
- This transfer is one of several big moves for Liverpool, who are also set to sign Florian Wirtz for a club record and have already bought Jeremie Frimpong.
- Kerkez’s energetic and strong defensive and attacking style makes him an ideal player for Liverpool’s new coach, Arne Slot’s, system.
Liverpool, the Premier League champions, have just made a big move in the transfer market, agreeing to pay £40 million for Milos Kerkez, a talented 21-year-old left-back from Bournemouth. Kerkez is known for his strong play on both defense and attack. This signing is part of Liverpool’s busy summer, as they are also close to buying Florian Wirtz for a huge fee and have already brought in Jeremie Frimpong. Experts believe Kerkez’s style of play, which includes aggressive pressing and helping in attack, will fit perfectly with the plans of Liverpool’s new coach, Arne Slot. This new addition could also change things for Liverpool’s current left-backs, Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas.
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Liverpool Finalize £40m Kerkez Deal
Liverpool have successfully agreed to a £40 million deal to bring promising 21-year-old Hungarian international left-back Milos Kerkez to Anfield from Bournemouth.
The move sees Kerkez join the Premier League champions after two impressive seasons with the Cherries, where he established himself as a dynamic and statistically strong defensive and attacking presence.
This signing is part of a significant summer spending spree for the Reds, who are also nearing a club-record £116 million deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz and have already secured Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong from the German club for £29.5 million.
Kerkez’s Journey to Anfield: A Rapid Ascent
Milos Kerkez, born in Serbia, began his senior football career in Hungary with Gyor before a brief stint at Italian giants AC Milan, where he did not make a first-team appearance.
His breakthrough came at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, joining in January 2022.
During the 2022-23 season, he became a key player for AZ, contributing five goals and seven assists in 52 appearances across all competitions, helping them finish fourth in the Dutch top flight and reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
His impressive performances caught the eye of Premier League clubs, and he joined Bournemouth in the summer of 2023.
In his debut Premier League season, Kerkez played all 38 league games, helping Bournemouth achieve a club-record ninth-place finish with 56 points.
He proved his attacking capabilities with two goals and six assists from the left-back position.
Notably, Liverpool’s current sporting director, Richard Hughes, was working for Bournemouth when Kerkez was signed, suggesting a familiarity and appreciation for the player’s talent.
Kerkez has also earned 23 caps for the Hungarian national team and will link up with his compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai at Liverpool.
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What Kerkez Brings: A Perfect Fit for Slot’s System
Analysis suggests that Kerkez’s playing style is well-suited to the tactical demands of Liverpool’s new head coach, Arne Slot.
While Slot’s approach may be more structured than former manager Jurgen Klopp’s “heavy metal” style, the core principles of aggressive pressing and winning the ball high up the pitch remain.
Kerkez’s statistics from the past season underline his suitability:
- Defensive Prowess: He recovered the ball 169 times, the fifth-most of any Premier League defender and more than any Liverpool defender. He also won the ball 11 times in the attacking third, ranking him ninth among defenders and again surpassing any of his future Liverpool teammates.
- Offensive Contribution: He created 34 chances from open play (seventh most by a defender) and registered five assists (joint-fourth in that ranking). His 142 crosses were the sixth-most, and he created eight big chances, ranking seventh among defenders.
- Ball Progression: Kerkez passed into the final third 476 times (tenth most by a Premier League defender) and completed 22 dribbles, more than any current Liverpool defender.
These numbers highlight Kerkez’s balance in both defense and attack, making him an ideal fit for the dynamic full-back role Slot is expected to implement.
His arrival may impact the futures of current Liverpool left-backs Andy Robertson, who has been linked with Atletico Madrid, and Kostas Tsimikas.
While Liverpool hopes to keep Robertson, his desire for regular football at 31 years old could see him move on, with Tsimikas potentially following suit.
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