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Liverpool came through a battling match against Bournemouth on Saturday with three more precious points in the Premier League.
The Reds knew they’d be in for a rough ride at the Vitality Stadium, having seen Bournemouth score nine goals across their past two games.
A big part of the Cherries’ good form has been left-back Milos Kerkez, who is reportedly on the transfer radar at Liverpool.
Kerkez has been linked with Liverpool as they search for a long-term successor to Andy Robertson.
Saturday gave the Reds a good chance to take a closer look at the Hungarian, as he faced up against Mohamed Salah on the Liverpool right.
Although Salah ended up being the match-winner, that was no reflection on Kerkez, who did well on the whole.
And after watching the 21-year-old from the touchline, Arne Slot was asked directly if Kerkez is now a transfer target.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Kerkez has been perhaps the standout left-back in the whole of the Premier League this season.
However, the Hungarian has also distanced himself from a move to the Reds recently.
Kerkez said he won’t be joining Liverpool in a live stream on his YouTube channel.
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That is unlikely to stop the rumours from coming, though, and speaking in his post-match press conference Slot may have fuelled that after praising the young defender.
“I think it’s clear that they have many good things this team but their left full-back is definitely a threat going forward and Mo Salah is an incredible player but his main strength is not following the opposition full-back!” smiled the Liverpool head coach.
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Asked directly if Kerkez is a player Liverpool will be ‘looking at in the summer’, Slot played it with a straight bat.
“I don’t think I have to talk about players that we are interested in let alone a player who’s playing here and having a great season, like many others here,” he said.
Slot will not have been the only one of a Liverpool persuasion watching Kerkez closely on Saturday.
The former AZ Alkmaar player is seemingly very much on the shortlist at Anfield for the summer and with very good reason.
However, although he did well in parts against Salah on Saturday, Kerkez still could not contain Liverpool’s talisman.
He is far from the only one who that has applied to over the years, but the standards are high at Liverpool and on this evidence we’re not sure Kerkez reaches them.
Having said that, he has had a terrific season and for a player so young he will only develop and get better.
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