Liverpool admires Milos Kerkez, ahead of a summer transfer window where signing a new left-back is likely to be on the agenda. But the Hungarian is drawing covetous glances from another European giant too.
So far, Arne Slot has relied heavily on Andy Robertson. While the Scotland captain has broadly done well, he has certainly had some shaky moments — and the regularity of his minutes perhaps speaks more to the status of Kostas Tsimikas, hooked at half-time against Southampton.
The Greek will not be the long-term successor to Robertson, who turns 31 tomorrow. Kerkez, on the other hand, could make a pretty convincing case, one which was only strengthened by a magic assist against Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend.
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Since arriving from AZ Alkmaar (Slot's old side) in 2023, Kerkez has taken to life in the Premier League well. Having previously found opportunities hard to come by at AC Milan, the 21-year-old has blossomed into a player who looks ready to compete at the highest level.
Kerkez is a regular for his national side, where he is captained by Dominik Szoboszlai. Yet despite so many factors seemingly pointing in favor of a transfer, Liverpool will know any pursuit would not be entirely straightforward.
For one thing, Manchester United has long been mentioned in connection with Kerkez as well. There's no contest on the pitch, but the Old Trafford outfit still holds some allure to certain players, amid background rumblings that the left-back may be a boyhood supporter.
Certainly, that would help explain why he assured viewers of a live YouTube stream that he would not go to Liverpool. Of course, if actually presented with the opportunity, his answer might differ (especially now Man Utd have signed Patrick Dorgu), but it's hardly encouraging.
And Kerkez could now be handed the chance to join another big club: Real Madrid. According to TeamTALK, which claims the defender would be allowed to move for $54m ($42m), he has been shortlisted at the Bernabeu.
Los Blancos are currently rotating two left-backs without holding too much long-term faith in either of them. Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia are solid enough options, but Kerkez would represent an upgrade on both.
However, Real Madrid's first choice in the transfer market remains Theo Hernandez — who, coincidentally enough, currently plies his trade for Milan, the place where Kerkez failed to make the breakthrough. A move for the Bournemouth star would be contingent on the failure of that pursuit.
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As ever in the transfer market, there are a lot of moving parts. Hernandez is also said to be coveted by Manchester City, a move which in turn might hinge on whether Pep Guardiola can salvage Champions League football.
But should Real Madrid miss out on Hernandez for one reason or another, then Liverpool would find itself up against the Spanish champion once again. It won the last encounter on the pitch, but has suffered numerous transfer losses in recent seasons. The headline is Jude Bellingham. But you can throw Aurelien Tchouameni into that mix too, and even Kylian Mbappe at something of a stretch.
So Liverpool will hope not to have to compete with Real Madrid for Kerkez's signature. But the way things are going this season, Slot will be able to make as good a pitch as anyone in Europe to prospective signings — and that includes the in-demand left-back.
