There has been a post doing the rounds on social media, appearing to take aim at Liverpool’s spending in recent times, namely their ability to fork out what were then record fees for Virgil van Dijk and Alisson.
That has been brought into the limelight amid the impending arrival of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz for a reported total price tag of around £126m, with that significant outlay potentially set to eclipse Chelsea’s £115m capture of Moises Caicedo – the current British record.
Caicedo revenge: Liverpool can hijack Chelsea move for "England's best LW"
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz faces an uncertain future with firm interest in his signature.
As revealed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano – writing in his GIVEMESPORT newsletter – there is set to be a final round of talks amid the hope of striking a deal with the Cherries, with the player himself having already agreed to the move.
It is said that the 21-year-old will be ‘next’ after Wirtz’s acquisition, with previous reports outlining that the rampaging left-back will command a fee of around £45m, should a deal be agreed.
Part of an exciting Bournemouth side last term, Kerkez could be a dream ‘consolation’ after the Reds missed out on his in-demand teammate, Dean Huijsen.
Why Kerkez could be as exciting as Huijsen
It may appear strange to say for a team that only just stormed to Premier League title glory, although there does appear to be surgery needed at Anfield, particularly with regard to the backline.
Indeed, the controversial exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold has sparked Frimpong’s acquisition, while Kerkez could be a ready-made replacement for Andy Robertson, with just a year remaining on the 31-year-old’s contract.
There has also been talk regarding the signing of a new centre-back, not least with uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konate’s own contract extension, with recent months seeing Liverpool emerge as a leading suitor for the aforementioned Huijsen.
Available for £50m due to a release clause in his Bournemouth contract, the 20-year-old Spaniard caught the eye following what has proved to be a solitary season on the south coast, with Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid ultimately winning the race for his signature.
Huijsen – who Jamie Redknapp described as looking “effortless” on the pitch – was the star attraction of Andoni Iraola’s high-flying side, but Kerkez is a standout talent in his own right, having been hailed as a “revelation” by Jamie Carragher.
Federico Dimarco
13
Rayan Ait-Nouri
11
Robin Gosens
10
Nathaniel Brown
10
Alejandro Grimaldo
10
Antonee Robinson
10
Maximilian Mittlestadt
9
Milos Kerkez
8
Emanuel Valeri
8
Sergi Cardona
8
A young and high-potential defender, much like Huijsen, the £45m man started all 38 league games in 2024/25, having chipped in with two goals and five assists in that time from his left-sided berth.
It is that attacking quality that stands out regarding the Hungary international, as he also created eight ‘big chances’ and averaged one key pass per game in the top-flight. Huijsen too is also a real threat in the opposition box, having registered five goals and assists of his own from centre-back.
What is most impressive about their pair, however, is that such forward-thinking quality is backed up by their defensive strength, with Huijsen averaging 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game while being dribbled past just 0.3 times. Kerkez, meanwhile, averaged 2.6 tackles and interceptions, while having been dribbled past on just 0.4 occasions.
For context, the long-serving Robertson averaged just 1.8 and 0.6 for those same two metrics, respectively, having also only registered one assist, showcasing the potential upgrade that could be acquired.
Yes, Huijsen may have been the name on everybody’s lips at the Vitality Stadium of late, although Kerkez – who Opta’s Matt Furniss claimed is ‘on his way to being one of Europe’s best full-backs’ – is equally as exciting.
Dream Huijsen alternative: Liverpool enter race to sign £50m Van Dijk heir
With a deal for Florian Wirtz all but signed, Liverpool are considering a swoop for a centre-back.
3 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 11, 2025