Liverpool's defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday stretched Arne Slot's winless run to three matches, with the Reds last tasting victory at Anfield against Tottenham Hotspur at the end of April.
Ah, that was the afternoon Liverpool sealed their 20th Premier League title. All good, then. Though Slot will be immensely disappointed with his team's struggles over the past three weeks, context will temper his frustrations, with the squad out celebrating their triumph in Dubai last week, instead of being at Kirkby, training for their clash at the AMEX.
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While standards have slipped, understandably so, the blip carries the undertow of a deeper issue that Slot has wrestled with across the season.
Rotation has been minimal in the Premier League this year, with the head coach seemingly unimpressed with some of his fringe stars.
That's why FSG are acting incisively to bring in a range of changes this summer. Jeremie Frimpong is slated to replace the outgoing Trent Alexander-Arnold, and it looks like bringing in Milos Kerkez is the next port of call.
The latest on Milos Kerkez to Liverpool
Though it feels like there's little need to panic, Liverpool fans will hold off on celebrating the acquisition of Bournemouth full-back Kerkez until the deal is done and dusted.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed that 'talks are advancing' between the two clubs, with Kerkez himself desperate to make the move to Merseyside.
But the Hungarian talent has been "absolutely exceptional" in the Premier League this year, as put by Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley, so important for Andoni Iraola's high-flying side.
So then, is it any surprise The i News are claiming Manchester City are ready to rival Liverpool for the £45m-rated player's signature?
Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez
Liverpool are still firm frontrunners, but have yet to table an official bid and City's enquiries are born from real interest in bringing him to the Etihad.
Sporting director Richard Hughes has a lot to sift through, but he's managing it well, having already shortlisted a potential alternative.
Liverpool enter race for defender
As per Sky Germany, Liverpool might be prioritising a deal for Kerkez, but that hasn't stopped them from adding Ajax's Jorrel Hato to the shortlist.
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While Caught Offside understand Chelsea currently lead the race for the dynamic Dutch defender, Liverpool likely trail only because they have focused their principal attention elsewhere.
But FSG can ramp up the gas at any given moment.
Ajax Amsterdam's Jorrel Hato celebrates after the match
Hato is expected to fetch a transfer fee worth €55m (£46m), and the suitors will be emboldened by Arsenal dropping their long-term interest after the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Why Liverpool want Jorrel Hato
Kerkez would be the dream for Liverpool, but it's a promising thing that Hughes and co are mapping out alternative options. The 19-year-old Hato, to be sure, has the potential to match or even exceed his Hungarian positional peer, having been instrumental from a young age in his homeland, already having made 111 senior showings for the club, hitting 13 goal contributions.
Jorrel Hato in action for Netherlands
Profiled as a tactically astute player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Hato is a dynamic and versatile player with a strong set of core qualities, which make a firm comment on his potential success at Slot's Liverpool.
Kulig even went as far as to say he's "one of the most talented CBs of his generation" after breaking onto the big stage in 2023, while scout Antonio Mango has described him as "one of the best young talents in football". Now this player of "immense quality" - as per Kulig - is proving himself worthy on the flank, too.
As per FBref, Hato ranks among the top 2% of full-backs in the Dutch Eredivisie this season for pass completion, the top 12% for assists, the top 6% for touches in the attacking box and the top 5% for through balls made per 90, bespeaking a flowing passing game that could be perfect for 'Slotball'.
Even in his nascence, Hato's vast experience in central defence could further his chances of earning a move to Merseyside, a dream Kerkez alternative but one whose prowess could be called upon to ease the centre-halves duties, especially if Jarell Quansah is to leave, as reported by Sky Germany, and Andy Robertson keeps his place in the senior squad next season.
Jorrel Hato - Career Ajax Stats by Position
Position
Left-back
Centre-back
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Stats via Transfermarkt
Kerkez might be a more natural wide defender, but that in itself doesn't mean Anfield should head down that route. Analyst Asim Mahmood has even claimed the Hungarian "needs a lot of coaching/development to mould him into an Arne Slot full-back."
Whether this is wholly true is open to discussion. The 21-year-old has hit seven goal involvements in the Premier League this year, winning 60% of his ground duels and completing 80% of his passes. Kerkez has made a key pass a game, and Slot has already demonstrated his capacity to enhance exciting young talents.
Maybe it's time to forget the Bournemouth left-back, who would cost FSG something in the same ballpark as Hato but perhaps isn't a perfect stylistic fit.
Milos Kerkez for Bournemouth
Indeed, Kerkez requiring coaching to align with the Liverpool boss' tactics is fine, but why bother making that investment when the Ajax starlet could be signed with a ready-made skill set.
Hato feels extremely Slot-esque with his distinct brand of possession-focused football. This isn't to the detriment of his creativity, though, shackled by his own desire to tick things along. As per Sofascore, Hato's 90% pass success rate in the Eredivisie has led to six assists, with two goals scored too.
Moreover, Hato has won 4.1 duels, made 1.9 tackles and recovered 4.2 loose balls per game, all denoting a roundedness that stretches into firm defensive roots and an innate athleticism, charged by some inexhaustible wellspring of energy that has sadly left Robertson's arsenal this year.
FFC in-text wider Kerkez vs Hato
Kerkez's entourage would no doubt point toward their man's superiority from an attacking standpoint, ranking higher across such relevant underlying metrics this season, but Hato would suggest he has been more economical with his attacking productivity, hitting eight direct contributions to Kerkez's seven.
Robertson's 31, but he's still been a regular feature in a team of Premier League champions, and for the second time at that. But this is a new era at the club, and Slot needs to be trusted with placing his own stamp on the squad.
jorrel-hato-ajax
If Liverpool are stuck between the two transfer targets, it might be worthwhile for Slot to walk down his trusted Dutch road and seal a deal for Hato's, whose unique qualities would leave him in a fantastic position to dovetail right into the high-flying team.
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Liverpool are acting like champions as they prepare to strengthen Arne Slot's squad considerably this summer.