Liverpool have Major Breakthrough in Race to Sign £40m Premier League Star
Liverpool are working to finalise a deal for 21-year-old Hungarian left-back Milos Kerkez, with AFC Bournemouth standing firm on a £45 million valuation. As reported by Paul Joyce of The Times, talks between Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and Bournemouth’s Simon Francis have intensified in recent days, marking another significant moment in Liverpool’s proactive summer planning.
With Andrew Robertson entering the final year of his deal and now 31, the push for Kerkez is more than a transfer—it’s succession planning with an aggressive, forward-looking edge. Hughes, who originally brought Kerkez to Bournemouth from AZ Alkmaar for £15 million in 2023, clearly believes in the player’s trajectory.
Pace, Profile and a Plan for the Future
Kerkez fits the blueprint Arne Slot is building at Anfield: youthful, explosive, and technically adept. “There remains a strong belief at Liverpool that Kerkez will join his international team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai on Merseyside,” Joyce reports, citing the player’s “pace and drive” as key attributes that align with Slot’s preferred high-tempo style.
Liverpool’s interest underscores the club’s growing identity under Slot—a tactical blend of intensity and adaptability, with a sharp eye for emerging European talent. Robertson’s experience and late-season form remain invaluable, but the long-term future demands a player who can offer more in transition and over the next half-decade.
Transfers That Reflect New Ambition
Kerkez is just one piece of a broader and more audacious summer strategy. Liverpool have already signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5 million and have gone in with a club-record £109 million bid for Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz. Though that was rejected, the interest demonstrates how Liverpool’s ambition now extends beyond domestic supremacy.
Joyce notes that the pursuit of players “who had been wanted by Manchester City reflects how attractive the club has become after their Premier League triumph.” That context is essential. Slot’s first-year title has not only stabilised the project but elevated Liverpool back to the very top of the continental conversation.
Díaz Future: No Offers, No Panic
Speculation once again surrounds Luis Díaz, with links to Barcelona and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr surfacing. Yet Liverpool remain unmoved. “Liverpool have received no expressions of interest in Luis Díaz and are not actively looking to sell,” Joyce writes.
Díaz’s 17 goals in 50 appearances and ability to play across the front line make him a prized asset for Slot, even as outside noise grows. There are currently no plans for a new deal, despite his name being consistently mentioned in transfer rumours. His contract runs until 2027 and Liverpool see no urgency.
Strategic Patience Over Spending Frenzy
Behind the big numbers and bold headlines, Liverpool’s summer remains rooted in calculated planning. Richard Hughes is not chasing deals for the sake of activity, but instead pushing for targets that reflect both tactical fit and long-term value. His familiarity with Bournemouth gives Liverpool a unique edge in the Kerkez negotiations, though the £45 million price tag may yet require compromise.
As Slot’s second season looms, the goal is clear—strengthen without destabilising, compete without compromise, and build a squad ready to challenge across all fronts. If Kerkez is secured, it will be a statement not only of intent but of identity.
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
Liverpool fans will absolutely love the direction this is heading. Milos Kerkez isn’t just a name for the future—he’s a player that ticks all the boxes for what this team needs right now. He’s got pace, aggression, and can play the kind of progressive football that Arne Slot demands from his full-backs.
Let’s face it—Robertson has been a warrior, but he can’t do it forever. Tsimikas hasn’t quite nailed down that backup spot with consistency either. So bringing in a 21-year-old who’s already adapted to the Premier League and has chemistry with Szoboszlai? That’s a no-brainer. And the fact that Richard Hughes knows him so well from his Bournemouth days makes this feel like a deal with very little risk and loads of upside.
As for the lack of interest in Díaz, supporters won’t mind one bit. He’s had another strong season and shown his worth under Slot. The club keeping their cards close with no intention to sell or extend his contract signals they’re not getting pushed around in the market. For once, Liverpool are calling the shots—and it feels good.
