Man Utd OUT, Chelsea IN: Liverpool face new threat for €50m superstar

Tom Weber

Updated: 5 Mar 2025 14:17 GMT
4 min read

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea, Arne Slot, Liverpool — © IMAGO

Manchester United have dropped out of the race to sign Milos Kerkez, with Chelsea and Liverpool now battling for his signature, according to a report.

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The Bournemouth left-back has emerged as one of the Premier League's most sought-after prospects since joining the Cherries in 2023. Kerkez's impressive performances have put him on the radar of the league's top clubs.

Man Utd held a long-standing interest in the Hungary international, but Ben Jacobs reports that they are not expected to pursue a move for Kerkez given that they signed Patrick Dorgu in the January transfer window.

Instead, Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid are concrete options for the 21-year-old. The Reds appear to be his most persistent suitors as they seek a long-term replacement for club legend Andy Robertson.

Moreover, Liverpool have the advantage of sporting director Richard Hughes, who previously signed Kerkez for Bournemouth. Fabrizio Romano confirmed the Reds' interest on Tuesday.

Bournemouth name Kerkez price

Considering that Bournemouth are flying high this season, they are not going to give up Kerkez without a fight. Jacobs reports that the South Coast club are demanding in excess of €48 million for the left-back, so we're likely looking at a €50m-€60m summer deal.

Kerkez, for his part, is keen on a new challenge, although he is not letting himself get distracted by the high-profile interest in his services. He wants to help Bournemouth attain a historically high Premier League finish before thinking about his next move.

However, Kerkez did recently admit in an interview that playing alongside compatriot and Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai at Liverpool 'wouldn't look bad.'

Liverpool boss Arne Slot will likely be quite familiar with Kerkez's game as he already came up against him in the Eredivisie during his time as Feyenoord coach. Before moving to Bournemouth, Kerkez spent 18 months on the books at Slot's former club AZ.