Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and his recruitment team are drawing out plans for next summer. They have come to the conclusion that they need to bring in a long-term replacement for Scotland international Andy Robertson.
The 30-year-old left-back is still a valued member of the squad and the club have plans to sit down with his representatives and discuss a new contract for him at the end of the season.
However, Liverpool know that they need a long-term replacement for Robertson and his deputy, Kostas Tsimikas, is not seen as the solution by the club hierarchy.
Liverpool scouts have been actively tracking left-backs across Europe and the Premier League and the club have already drawn up a shortlist of targets.
However, the Merseyside giants clearly have a top target that they want to bring in as they believe he has all the talent to be the long-term successor to Robertson at left-back.
The top target is in the Premier League
Liverpool have been closely tracking several left-backs but according to the Sunday Mirror (via the Echo), Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is the top target for the Reds.
Kerkez has been brilliant in the Premier League this season and has been one of the reasons behind Bournemouths’s form.
Hughes was responsible for signing the Hungary left-back as the sporting director at Dean Court when he decided to fork out £15.5m to snare him away from AZ Alkmaar.
The Liverpool sporting director wants to repeat the trick at Anfield and is desperate to take Kerkez to Anfield, possibly in the next summer transfer window.
Can you name the club Liverpool sold these players to?
Bournemouth are expecting bids for him in January but they are unlikely to sell and will most probably listen to offers at the end of the season.
However, his value has more than trebled and it could take more than £50m to get him out to Dean Court in the summer transfer window.
Kerkez is also likely to attract interest from other Premier League clubs with Manchester United also believed to be interested in signing him.
Hughes wants the Hungarian and is banking on his established relationship with his camp to take him to Anfield.
