Liverpool have lost their underdog moniker under the management of Arne Slot, who is a Premier League-winning manager in his maiden campaign.
That’s for the best. Anfield, after all, plays host to one of the best and most fearsome outfits in world football, and the powers that be will no doubt be aware Arsenal and Manchester City are ready to make sweeping changes over the summer.
It’s the full-backs, however, who have been the first port of call. Jeremie Frimpong is on the verge of completing his transfer as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s replacement, while plans have been drawn to secure a long-term star at left-back.
In something of an open secret, FSG are looking to close talks with Bournemouth for their rising talent Milos Kerkez, who is desperate to make the move to Merseyside.
Liverpool advancing in talks for Milos Kerkez
Andy Robertson became a two-time Premier League winner this year, starting 28 matches with one to spare. However, the 31-year-old is on the decline and bringing Kerkez in as his heir is a brilliant move.
Not least because the two can work together next season, the younger man absorbing the teachings of one of the modern game’s finest full-backs.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Kerkez, 21, is closing on his dream move to Merseyside, with personal terms all wrapped up and now advancing discussions with the Cherries, who have previously listed the Hungarian at £45m.
Hailed a “revelation at Bournemouth” by pundit Jamie Carragher, Kerkez is the perfect wide defender for Slot’s side, with a balanced approach, energy and tenacity, athleticism and initiative.
Kerkez would add a dimension for sure, but that’s not Liverpool done and dusted in the rearguard. Indeed, FSG may yet green-light another move for a central defender to complete a title-winning defence.
Liverpool line up new centre-back
Liverpool missed out on Dean Huijsen, the Bournemouth centre-back moving to Real Madrid despite the vested interests of the Premier League’s biggest hitters.
Huijsen isn’t the only talented defender on the market, though, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi also on the Reds’ radar.
According to GIVEMESPORT’s Dean Jones, Liverpool continue to circle for the Three Lions star, though they are joined by a host of further clubs: Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, Juventus.
Currently, Guehi is understood to have a market value of £50m, but after Oliver Glasner orchestrated an incredible FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, the Eagles may well look for something steeper, a fresh update that will no doubt have Liverpool and the rest chewing over.
That said, the 24-year-old is about to enter the final year of his deal, so this might be one that carries into the thick of the summer market.
What Marc Guehi would offer Liverpool
Crystal Palace signed Guehi from Chelsea for £18m in 2021, and now he is immortal.
Across 155 appearances, he’s scored eight goals and risen in reputation and actual ability to become one of England’s finest. Now, his triumph in the FA Cup has solidified his greatness in south London.
This might make it more difficult to pull him away from Glasner’s clutches, for Palace will compete in the Europa League next year, but the savvy Steve Parish runs the risk of losing his prized asset on a free if bids are turned away over the coming months.
Regarding Liverpool, Slot and co may want to exhaust every reasonable option to bring him to the club. The two-footed centre-half really could be the perfect signing alongside Kerkez, especially since he bears a likeness to Huijsen.
Matches (starts)
34 (34)
30 (25)
Goals
3
3
Assists
2
1
Touches*
64.9
64.4
Pass completion
84%
84%
Key passes*
0.5
0.5
Dribble success
86%
40%
Ball recoveries*
4.3
3.4
Tackles + interceptions*
2.6
2.9
Clearances*
4.6
6.0
Duels (won)*
4.9 (59%)
3.8 (57%)
As you can see, both players have dynamic qualities on the ball and are strong and sure in their defensive work.
But why are we discussing Real Madrid-bound Huijsen? Well, given the similarities and, dare we say, superiorities across certain areas in Guehi’s favour, it’s hard to imagine he’d be anything other than a bona fide success alongside Kerkez in the years to come.
After all, we’re talking about “one of the most impressive defensive lines in Europe,” something echoed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, whose expansive style of football under the wing of Andoni Iraola could see Kerkez dovetail right into the Liverpool scene.
Guehi, who has had a taste for success with Palace this year, is a defender catered toward the highest station. His ability to pick out promising attacks with regularity is something Huijsen has built into his efforts this year, and is something that Kerkez has indeed used to charge his exploits.
Over the past year, Guehi has established himself as a starting fixture for England, but the signs of brilliance have been there for far longer.
His former teammate at youth level for England, Josef Bursik, once remarked that the “tank” of a defender is fantastic to play with as it’s “like having a brick wall in front of you.”
With a silky ability to play out from the back, ranking among the top 9% of Premier League centre-backs this year for through balls and the top 18% for shot-creating actions per 90 (as per FBref), Guehi could thread neat balls out wide, into space, into Kerkez’s path.
It’s quite the exciting combination, one Liverpool fans may begin to salivate over given Kerkez looks pretty nailed-on to sign for Liverpool in the coming weeks.
More importantly, it’s all evidence that Liverpool, Premier League champions, aren’t resting on their laurels, and are acting like the goliath institution that they are.
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