Kerkez helped Bournemouth finish ninth in the Premier League last season Liverpool have agreed a £40m deal to sign left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth. The 21-year-old Hungary international is set to join the Premier League champions after two seasons with the Cherries. Bournemouth have already signed Adrien Truffert from Rennes as his replacement. Liverpool's deal for Kerkez comes with the Reds close to completing a club-record £116m move for Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz. They have also signed Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong from the German club for £29.5m. Serbia-born Kerkez began his senior career at Hungarian side Gyor before a move to Italian club AC Milan. He failed to make an appearance for the Serie A outfit before a switch to Dutch team AZ Alkmaar in January 2022. He helped AZ Alkmaar finish fourth in the Dutch top flight in 2022-23 when he scored five goals and provided seven assists in 52 appearances. The Eredivisie side also reached the semi-finals of the 2022-23 Europa Conference League before being beaten by eventual winners West Ham. Kerkez joined Bournemouth in summer 2023 when Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes worked for the Cherries. He played all 38 league games last season as Bournemouth finished ninth with a club-record 56 Premier League points, with Kerkez contributing two goals and six assists. Kerkez, who has made 23 appearances for Hungary, will join compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai at Liverpool. His expected arrival at Anfield leaves the future of Reds left-backs Andy Robertson,who has been linked with Atletico Madrid,and Kostas Tsimikas unclear. Liverpool are keen to retain Robertson and allow current back-up Tsimikas to leave, but they acknowledge that 31-year-old Scot Robertson may want to move on in search of regular football. Nat Hayward, BBC Sport journalist In terms of how Liverpool play football, Kerkez appears the perfect full-back. Although former manager Jurgen Klopp's 'heavy metal' style of fast-paced, high-pressing football has been adapted by successor Arne Slot, the fundamentals of aggressive pressing - albeit in a more structured way - and trying to win the ball high up the pitch still remain. The 21-year-old recovered the ball 169 times last season - the fifth-most of any defender in the Premier League and more than any Liverpool defender. He also won the ball in the Cherries' attacking third 11 times - the ninth most of defenders in the division and again more than any of his potential future Reds team-mates. In a Bournemouth team that eventually finished ninth, the Hungary international created 34 chances from open play - the seventh most by a defender - and registered five assists, which placed him joint-fourth in that ranking. His 142 crosses were the sixth-most and his eight big chances created was the seventh most among defenders. In terms of ball progression, Kerkez passed into the final third 476 times - the 10th most times of any Premier League defender, while no Liverpool defender completed more dribbles than his 22. The statistics show Kerkez is well placed to adapt at Anfield in terms of what Slot requires from his full-backs both defensively and offensively.
Liverpool agree £40m deal to sign Kerkez from Bournemouth
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"Liverpool Finalizes £40 Million Transfer for Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Liverpool Football Club has finalized a £40 million deal to acquire left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, marking a significant addition to their squad as they prepare for the upcoming season. The 21-year-old Hungary international played a pivotal role in Bournemouth's successful campaign last season, helping the team secure a commendable ninth place in the Premier League. His contributions included two goals and six assists across all 38 league matches, showcasing his offensive capabilities as well as his defensive reliability. Bournemouth, having already signed Adrien Truffert from Rennes as Kerkez's replacement, is now looking to build on their previous season's achievements. Meanwhile, Liverpool is also in the process of finalizing a club-record £116 million transfer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, alongside a recent acquisition of Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong for £29.5 million, indicating a strong commitment to enhancing their squad depth and quality.
Milos Kerkez's journey to Liverpool has been marked by impressive performances at various clubs, starting with his senior career in Hungary before moving to AC Milan and then AZ Alkmaar, where he excelled in the Eredivisie. His statistics from last season highlight his suitability for Liverpool's playing style, particularly under the tactical adjustments made by manager Arne Slot. Kerkez's ability to recover the ball and create chances aligns well with Liverpool's aggressive pressing philosophy. He ranked fifth among Premier League defenders for ball recoveries and contributed significantly to Bournemouth's attacking play by creating numerous chances and delivering a high volume of crosses. As he prepares to join Liverpool, Kerkez's arrival raises questions about the future of existing left-backs at the club, particularly Andy Robertson, who has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid. Liverpool's management is keen to retain Robertson while allowing Kostas Tsimikas to leave, reflecting their strategic approach to squad management in light of new signings.
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