Arsenal’s draw at Old Trafford on Sunday all but confirms Liverpool as Premier League champions for 2024/25.
For Liverpool, who are 15 points clear, to fall now would take the most extraordinary of collapses, and while it’s not over until the final bell, Arne Slot’s side have lost just once all season, and indeed look set to lift the title.
The Merseysiders have enjoyed an incredible campaign, still in with a shout for silverware across multiple fronts, but sporting director Richard Hughes is settled into his seat now and will no doubt have compiled a dossier on a range of targets, ready for summer investment.
Out with the old and all that. Slot inherited quite the team from Jurgen Klopp, but that’s not to say it’s without its weaknesses.
Liverpool getting ready to sell
Nothing’s certain in life. Only death, taxes and Darwin Nunez’s inconsistency. The Uruguayan is back on form after a wonderful assist for Harvey Elliott’s winner in Paris and a well-taken goal last weekend to kick off the second-half comeback against Southampton.
Such involvements have raised his output to seven goals and six assists from 38 Liverpool outings in 2024/25. Not good enough. Nunez cost FSG a fortune, leaving Benfica in a deal rising to a club-record £85m in 2022. Whether the up-and-down striker has met all the clauses to reach that total fee is questionable, though Liverpool’s Premier League conquering is sure to have a say in the matter.
Having come close to leaving for the Saudi Pro League in January, it seems Nunez will be off at the end of the season, creating space for a more reliable out-and-out centre-forward. The Athletic’s David Ornstein has suggested Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is at the top of the wish list.
But Liverpool’s problems run deeper. Though solvable, Hughes and Co must get it right this summer to stand a chance of challenging for the biggest honours once again. That’s why it’s imperative Liverpool sign a new left-back.
Andy Robertson is past his best and Kostas Tsimikas has never carried the complete arsenal to become the abiding number one.
Luckily, Slot has just the player in mind.
Slot driving move for new Liverpool left-back
As per Fabrizio Romano – writing for GIVEMESPORT – Liverpool are gearing up to sign Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez this summer.
The Reds have been interested in the defender since 2024 and Slot is now fully behind a move with the Dutchman signing off on a three-man shortlist that includes the Cherries full-back.
Kerkez, 21, has been among the Premier League’s finest breakout stars of the season, with the report indicating it would cost Liverpool in the €45m (£38m) ballpark.
The Cherries appear to have signed a successor, bagging Julio Soler from Lanos for about £7m in January. The more cynical observers may take that as a preemptive move.
Why Kerkez would be a game-changer for Liverpool
Kerkez is technically complete with pace and power to serve Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth. The Hungarian, close with Dominik Szoboszlai, is only getting started but already among the Premier League’s finest.
Across 28 top-flight fixtures this term, he’s scored two goals and posted five assists, averaging 4.7 ball recoveries and 0.6 dribbles per game while winning 56% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.
By contrast, Robertson has averaged a meek 0.1 dribbles per game, meaning he’s on course to complete less than four successful carries across the campaign.
This truly could revolutionise Liverpool’s backline, bringing youthful avidity and a new take to charge the left flank and permitting the deadly Cody Gakpo even greater security in bagging in the final third, for he will have robust support from behind.
Perhaps it will transform Liverpool’s rearguard in the same way that Virgil van Dijk did when joining Liverpool from Southampton for a world-record £75m fee in December 2017.
This might seem like a bold claim. It is, to be fair. However, while Slot’s Liverpool are already on course to lift the elusive league trophy, they are still in their early phase, yet to develop into the force of the Dutchman’s true vision. How exciting is that?
Kerkez has been earmarked, picked by Slot especially to become part of this illustrious project. Van Dijk was described as “a very good centre-back” by Ronald Koeman during his St. Mary’s days, but it was his move to Anfield that birthed a legendary career.
Premier League
226
19
9
1x
Champions League
51
3
3
1x
FA Cup
11
2
0
1x
Carabao Cup
11
2
0
2x
Europa League
5
0
0
0x
FIFA Club World Cup
1
0
0
1x
Community Shield
3
0
1
1x
UEFA Super Cup
1
0
0
1x
Kerkez could now follow suit, showing all the signs of becoming a superstar in his own right. Moreover, he would be joining a talented Liverpool side lacking something in defence, just like when Van Dijk arrived and strengthened Klopp’s team. Then came the glory.
A more fiddly comparator would be the respective defenders’ placement on the South Coast before moves to Merseyside, having established themselves as one of the Premier League’s finest in their role for a side supposedly punching above its weight.
Journalist Zach Lowy has even gone as far as to say that he’s “the best left-back in England” who’s “worth his weight in gold.”
Liverpool may wish to persist with Robertson but bring Kerkez in to challenge him for top spot, before ultimately claiming it for his own. It makes so much sense, and Liverpool need to get this transformational signing done before another competitor makes their move.
Although Liverpool’s contractual disputes will take front and centre stage over the next few months, FSG have had plenty of time to fix the various other problems in the squad.
Kerkez would represent a defence-changing move, taking a great backline and turning it into an unstoppable and dynamic force. He might be the final piece of the puzzle – in a way, just like Van Dijk was.
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