If the cat wasn't out of the bag about Milos Kerkez's potential move from Bournemouth to Liverpool, then it is now
Milos Kerkez with Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth during a training session at Vitality Stadium on February 05, 2025
Milos Kerkez with Justin Kluivert of Bournemouth during a training session at Vitality Stadium on February 5, 2025
(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Bournemouth forward Justin Kluivert says he expects team-mate Milos Kerkez to complete a transfer to Liverpool. The Reds have been linked with the left-back for months and have now made contact with the Cherries ahead of tabling a formal offer.
Kerkez is believed to be desperate to make the move to Anfield, where his friend and Hungary national team captain Dominik Szoboszlai also plays, but negotiations are ongoing over a potential £45m agreement.
Reds sporting director Richard Hughes is in dialogue with his Bournemouth counterpart Simon Francis over the terms and there is an expectation that Kerkez will move to Merseyside at some stage this summer.
And speaking after the Netherlands' 8-0 demolition of Malta on Tuesday night, Cherries frontman Kluivert says the switch to the Premier League champions would be a great career move for the 21-year-old
"He'll probably go there (to Liverpool)," Kluivert told Voetbal Primeur. "I hope so for him.
"He hasn't really said goodbye yet, but I hope he'll make it happen there."
The potential arrival of Kerkez will cast doubt on the future of Kostas Tsimikas, who has played as the understudy to Andy Robertson since his transfer from Olympiakos in the summer of 2020.
Greek international Tsimikas is reportedly attracting the interest of newly-promoted Leeds United, while Scotland captain Robertson is now into the final year of his deal at Anfield.
Speaking about a move to Liverpool, Kerkez said last month: "Of course, something always leaks into the news. I don't know how. At the same time, I think it's normal that if you play well and the team does well, then you get into the news and end up on the front page, and everyone talks about you.
"I see this as fuel that drives me forward. All this doesn't break me, but it doesn't 'boost' my ego either, but it teaches me humility and motivates me."
The Reds have made three signings already this summer. The pre-arranged transfer of Giorgi Mamardashvili and the arrival of Armin Pecsi has bolstered Arne Slot's goalkeeping department and allowed Caoimhin Kelleher to move to Brentford to fulfil his desire of being a No.1.
While Jeremie Frimpong has arrived from Bayer Leverkusen as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has joined Real Madrid.
Liverpool remain in talks with Leverkusen over a club record move for Florian Wirtz.