Left-back is just about the only position across the Liverpool back line where a first-team departure looks unlikely this summer. Nevertheless, Milos Kerkez has been strongly linked with an incoming transfer, and he may have just sparked some more optimism on Instagram.
While Arne Slot is sweating over the futures of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, the upcoming transfer window cannot be entirely about replacing anyone who leaves. Liverpool also needs to strengthen from its existing base, and that’s where the links to Kerkez start to make sense.
Having had almost a full season now to assess the squad, Slot may well feel that Andy Robertson needs some sterner competition. The Scot’s race is far from run just yet, but there have been moments across the campaign where it would have been nice to have a more convincing alternative than Kostas Tsimikas.
And Kerkez has stood out as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League, amid an excellent campaign for Bournemouth. Transfer links to Liverpool have been growing in intensity.
Exactly how he feels about the speculation is not entirely clear. At one stage earlier this season, he confidently told a live stream that he will not go to Liverpool — amid whispers that he grew up supporting Manchester United.
But there has always been a sense that Kerkez could change his tune if Liverpool actually comes knocking. After all, it may well end up being an opportunity to join the newly-crowned Premier League champion.
Anyone dreaming of Kerkez at Anfield has been given some encouragement by his latest Instagram post. The left-back shared a photo while away on international duty.
His chosen picture shows him in training with Dominik Szoboszlai. With nobody in shot except for Kerkez and the Liverpool star, many have been putting two and two together.
Of course, it is crucial to note at this stage that not only are the pair international colleagues for Hungary, but Szoboszlai is actually Kerkez’s captain. It would be a bit like if Jarell Quansah posted a snap with Harry Kane over the course of the break, and we all decided he must be on his way to Bayern Munich.
Having said that, Quansah is not being very publicly linked with a transfer to the Bundesliga giant. Kerkez has already shown he is well aware of the Liverpool speculation, which does make you imagine that he knows what he was doing by posting the photo with Szoboszlai.
It may well prove to be nothing at all. But for those who would like to see Kerkez at Liverpool, it’s certainly more fuel for the dream.
