Liverpool’s remarkable summer spending spree is poised to persist with the acquisition of Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez for £40 million ($53.9 million), according to multiple reports.
The Reds are determined not to rest on their achievements after clinching the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s inaugural season and have instead initiated a significant overhaul of their squad to maintain their competitive edge.
Florian Wirtz is on the verge of becoming the most expensive transfer in Premier League history, with his £116.5 million ($157.1 million, €137.5 million) transfer nearing completion following a successful medical examination.
The German playmaker will join Anfield just weeks after his teammate Jeremie Frimpong made a similar move from Bayer Leverkusen.
The Athletic is among several sources reporting that Kerkez, who has thrived during his two seasons at Bournemouth, is set to follow in a deal that will net the Cherries approximately £40 million.
This represents a significant profit on the £15 million ($20.2 million) they invested in the Hungarian two summers ago.
The 21-year-old Kerkez is anticipated to undergo a medical next week prior to signing a five-year contract.
The acquisition of a new left-back for Slot may signal the conclusion of Andy Robertson’s illustrious eight-year tenure at Liverpool.
The Scot, who was signed from Hull City for a mere £8 million in July 2017, is widely considered one of the Premier League’s most astute signings, having won two league titles while establishing himself as part of the league’s most formidable full-back partnerships.Alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, now with Real Madrid, Robertson redefined the role of the attacking full-back, amassing 48 assists over a five-season period from 2018 to 2023.
However, his performance metrics have declined over the past two seasons, despite Liverpool’s success last year, and there are reports suggesting a potential transfer to Atlético Madrid could be forthcoming.
Indeed, the 31-year-old thought to be interested in the switch—a position that is likely to be strengthened with Kerkez’s imminent arrival.
There is expected to be additional transfer activity at Liverpool as Bayer Leverkusen, former champions of the Bundesliga, persist in their pursuit of a deal for centre-back Jarell Quansah.
The 22-year-old has come to Leverkusen’s attention following Jonathan Tah’s decision to forgo a contract extension in favor of joining Bayern Munich. An exit for Quansah seems plausible, as he has struggled to secure a consistent first-team position at Anfield.
According to The Athletic, negotiations are advancing regarding a deal valued at approximately €40 million (£34 million, $45.8 million), with Quansah reportedly receptive to the transfer in hopes of advancing his career.
Ibrahima Konaté has only one year left on his contract with Liverpool, which places the club in a precarious position regarding a potential free transfer. However, it is anticipated that Liverpool will pursue highly sought-after Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guéhi as a replacement for Quansah.
A report from the Telegraph indicates that Liverpool is likely to present a substantial offer for the 24-year-old, who is widely regarded as a key figure in the future of England’s central defense.
Last summer, Newcastle United had bids around £60 million rejected by Palace, but with only a year remaining on his contract, the London club may be more amenable to negotiations for an exit this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur has also shown interest in Guéhi, who was previously considered excess by Chelsea.
Nevertheless, Liverpool is believed to be in the most advantageous position among interested parties to finalize a deal.