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Eddie Howe could be facing another difficult summer in the transfer market (Picture: Getty Images)
Danny Murphy feels Liverpool need a new left-back and Newcastle’s Lewis Hall would be an ideal option, if they can get him.
The Reds signed Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth last summer and there are no signs that he will depart at the end of this season.
However, club legend Andy Robertson is set to leave at the end of the campaign, linked with a move to Spurs when his contract runs out.
Former Liverpool midfielder Murphy says the club clearly needs to replace the Scot and he likes the look of England international Hall.
He does not think Newcastle will want to sell the 21-year-old, but there are doubts over how the Magpies are going to meet PSR demands as they will not be in the Champions League next season.
Murphy reckons that if Liverpool can take advantage of the situation then they should.
‘To be honest, depending on what happens with the Newcastle situation, I’m a huge fan of Lewis Hall,’ Murphy told Betarades. ‘I think he’s a wonderful player, a brilliant footballer, and when it comes to one-on-one defending, he’s very, very good.
FC Barcelona v Newcastle United FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg
Lewis Hall has built a glowing reputation at Newcastle (Picture: Getty Images)
‘It’s probably unlikely you’re going to get him out because it it looks like [Sandro] Tonali might go and [Anthony] Gordon might go, but if Newcastle do have to sell and you can pinch him, even if you have to pay a bit more for him, he’s still a young man, he’s got the Premier League experience, and I think he’s been one of Newcastle’s shining lights this season.
‘There’s a lot of great left-backs out there not worth mentioning because I don’t think you’d tear them away from PSG Bayern Munich, and they’re at some of the biggest clubs in the world, and you’d like to be able to grab them and take them, but I’m not sure.’
The ex-England midfielder actually feels that not only does Robertson need replacing as back-up to Kerkez, but Liverpool should be signing a first choice at left-back.
Liverpool FC v Paris Saint-Germain FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg
Milos Kerkez has had a mixed first season at Liverpool (Picture: Getty Images)
‘Kerkez is a trier and he’s improved, is he at the level Liverpool need to win league titles and Champions League? My feeling is that he’s not,’ he said.
‘He’s probably an understudy; he’s probably a backup. Now, if you’ve got 60 games in a season and you’re competing in all competitions, you can’t just have one. But he’s not better than Andy Robertson.’
Despite spending big last summer, it seems that Liverpool will need to invest heavily again in the next transfer window.
England v Republic of Ireland - UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2
Hall could be England’s starting left-back at this summer’s World Cup (Picture: Getty Images)
Murphy reckons a right-back is also needed, with Jeremie Frimpong seemingly too attack-minded to play in a back four.
‘I think Liverpool need a really established quality right-back because Frimpong looks more like a wing-back or a winger to me,’ he said. ‘He hasn’t really looked that comfortable playing at right-back.
‘That can change, I’ve seen it in the past where players after their first season settle and get more comfortable in their surroundings.
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‘I’m not disregarding Conor Bradley because I think when he’s fit, he’s a super player, but unfortunately at the moment, you can’t rely on him cause he can’t stay fit for a period of time.
‘I think they’ll probably give Frimpong another year to establish himself alongside Conor Bradley because they can’t replace everybody. I think the left side will be more important because of Robbo leaving.
‘I think they need to bring someone in who can really compete and play and not be an understudy to Kerkez. I think they need to go and get somebody who’s established and of real quality that can come into the team, push Kerkez, and probably overtake him, if I’m being honest. The Kerkez signing hasn’t really worked.’
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