Liverpool have formally signed left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth and there may be each confidence they’ve introduced in Andy Robertson‘s preferrred successor.
Paul Konchesky. Jose Enrique. Aly Cissokho. Jon Flanagan. Alberto Moreno. The listing might go on.
The position of Liverpool’s first-choice left-back was not a straightforward one to fill for nearly a decade-and-a-half. Simply ask James Milner, for whom 53 of his 332 appearances for the membership got here there, reluctantly.
It’s not an issue unique to Anfield, both, with Man Metropolis and Arsenal each recycling by left-backs through the years at nice value whereas nonetheless resorting to unorthodox options to the place.
That was till Robertson – and now, with Kerkez arrived as his successor, all indicators are that it is going to be a clean transition.
But there will probably be a singular stress on the 21-year-old signed from Bournemouth: the most costly full-back within the membership’s historical past and substitute for the best left-back to ever symbolize Liverpool.
Kerkez the individual
Not that that must be a priority, with Kerkez exuding the boldness of a participant whose profession is charting precisely how he needs it – even when that has meant taking part in in six totally different nations, for eight totally different golf equipment, earlier than his twenty second birthday.
Born in Serbia, to Serbian dad and mom, he resolved to symbolize Hungary – the nation of his paternal grandmother – on the age of 14, at which level he was taking part in in Austria for Fast Wien’s youth groups.
Having left boyhood membership OFK Vrbas for Vienna in 2014 he then made the transfer to Hungary in 2019 for spells with Hodmezovasarhely after which Gyor, earlier than a name from Paolo Maldini satisfied him to make the soar to AC Milan in Italy.
That introduced him his first brush with Liverpool and future teammates like Conor Bradley, representing Milan’s U19s within the UEFA Youth League.
A scarcity of alternatives in Milan’s first group led Kerkez to the Netherlands a yr later, becoming a member of Arne Slot‘s former membership AZ Alkmaar for a season earlier than lastly making his approach to the Premier League with Bournemouth.
Kerkez is effectively travelled however impressively grounded, telling The Athletic‘s Caoimhe O’Neill in March: “I might relatively go dwelling for my trip and be with household or mates in my hometown than journey to Ibiza, for instance.
“I can do the whole lot at dwelling in Serbia, I don’t have to go wherever else. I constructed my dwelling there.
“I’m going to have all of the enjoyable I would like in my hometown, so I don’t have to go wherever else.”
That ought to allay any issues over the participant’s character after making it clear that he supposed to go away Bournemouth for Liverpool and a questionable interview alongside his father, Sebastijan, through which particulars of the deal have been divulged.
Throughout that dialog with Serbian podcast Tremendous Indirektno, Kerkez Sr. attested to the affect of Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, previously technical director at Bournemouth, saying “if he had mentioned we have been going to India, we’d have gone to India.”
Dominik Szoboszlai may have given a fond advice for one in all his closest mates in soccer, too, whereas Kerkez should not have any issues settling into Slot’s squad as he’s fluent in English, German, Serbian and Hungarian, and comfy talking Italian.
Kerkez the participant
Clearly there was sufficient due diligence carried out on Kerkez the individual, whereas there at the moment are two seasons value of proof that Kerkez the participant is able to taking the subsequent stage on the prime finish of the Premier League.
It will be incorrect to label Kerkez the subsequent Andy Robertson, however there are clear similarities in his sport.
Particularly, that comes with the boundless power required of a contemporary full-back – among the many most frequent sprinters in final season’s Premier League – but in addition the defensive sensibility that will probably be important in Slot’s system.
“Possibly folks see how a lot I am going ahead they usually neglect about my defending however the very first thing I’m good at is defending, one v one, within the duels,” he advised the Guardian‘s Ben Fisher final yr.
“Something additional is a bonus, as a result of I’ve the power to do it, so why not? It’s the neatest thing for us as defenders, to lock down the wingers.”
He’s a bullish tank of a left-back with a stocky body and legs that, once they get going, start to blur as he takes his opposing right-back on and threatens within the remaining third.
Per FotMob, Kerkez received 152 duels in final season’s Premier League, rating him within the prime 11 p.c of gamers in his place, which is significantly greater than Robertson (61) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (101).
The Hungary worldwide can be within the 89th percentile for possibilities created, 93rd for profitable crosses and 87th for profitable dribbles, with Robertson rating within the 92nd, ninetieth and forty third respectively.
He’s a left-back who needs to defend firstly, but in addition supplies an outlet in harmful attacking positions regularly.
There will probably be an adjustment interval in transferring to Liverpool – he solely averaged 61 touches per 90 minutes in final season’s Premier League whereas Robertson has averaged 89 per 90 throughout this time at Anfield – however that may little doubt have factored within the membership’s evaluation.
Objectives, assists and availability!
It would have been the job of Liverpool’s information scientists to pore over the underlying figures, however for supporters the moments to relish will probably be in these clips joyfully shared on social media.
Kerkez’s beautiful help for Marcus Tavernier in March’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham is the standout: intercepting a unfastened move in his defensive third and driving ahead earlier than bending an ideal cross into the field for his right-back to complete on the far put up.
There was additionally a brace of assists in an announcement 2-1 win over Man Metropolis in November and targets in victories over Wolves and Newcastle.
In complete, Kerkez scored two and assisted six as he began all 38 video games as Bournemouth broke their factors document by ending ninth within the Premier League, and that availability – solely lacking one sport in all competitions – which will probably be as useful as his finish product.
Availability and consistency have been the qualities Robertson constructed his popularity round at Anfield, and in Kerkez, Liverpool look to have signed a participant who can replicate that for the subsequent decade to come back.
