It feels like a certainty that Liverpool will sign a left back this summer.
Andy Robertson turned 31 on Tuesday and Kostas Tsimikas has demonstrated he is not a long-term replacement, though the Greek star is clearly an able deputy and well-liked figure in the dressing room.
That poses the question: who will it be? Liverpool Confidential has spent the last week ploughing through footage, data and talking to sources close to potential targets to try to paint a deeper picture of who Arne Slot may target – and some left-field names he could consider, too.
All the suggestions at this admittedly still early stage point towards Bournemouth’s MILOS KERKEZ being the leading candidate.
Richard Henczi, the former agent of Kerkez who is still close to him, insists that Liverpool are becoming ‘really advanced’ in their courtship of the Hungary international, 21.
Confidential understands that the player will meet up with his inner circle in Budapest next week when he is back home for international duty, with his future on the agenda. Hungary team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai may well be in his ear.
Milos Kerkez is the leading candidate for Liverpool to try to sign at left back this summer
Bournemouth are in no rush to sell Kerkez and will not be bullied into letting any of their breakthrough stars leave for cheap
As reported in this column last week, Bournemouth are in no rush to sell him and will not be bullied into letting any of their breakthrough stars leave for cheap. The Cherries will demand around £40-45million.
It is also believed that the player supported Manchester United as a kid and his idol was Nemanja Vidic. United were keen on Kerkez last summer but have since bought Patrick Dorgu.
One thing that might work in Liverpool’s favour is that their sporting director, Richard Hughes, signed Kerkez in his former job at Bournemouth – and he knows the new agent, Fali Ramidani, from doing previous business together when signing Federico Chiesa this summer.
Kerkez moved agencies a few months ago but former representative Henczi held talks with several top clubs, including Liverpool, to scope out the conditions for a move.
No full back has played more minutes in the Premier League this season than Kerkez. And since the start of last season across Europe’s top five leagues, only three players have played more while aged 22 or under.
That is the experience Liverpool will crave. He is also one of the division’s most energetic stars: he is in the top 10 in the Premier League this season for total distance covered (173.1miles – 10th) and total sprints (616 – fifth), while only five players have covered more distance while sprinting than he has (6.8miles).
He has also made more overlapping runs than anyone in the division (237), while he ranks alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold for passes in the final third from a defender.
Aside from Kerkez, Liverpool have watched JORREL HATO at Ajax. The 19-year-old has played 65 games in the Dutch Eredivisie so has a decent body of experience for his age.
Jorrel Hato already has a wealth of experience under his belt at the age of just 19
Sergi Cardona is an up and coming star at Villarreal and has been watched by Liverpool
Juventus left back Andrea Cambiaso has also turned out on the right wing for the Italians
Like Kerkez, he has a mate at Liverpool – he was a guest of Ryan Gravenberch at a recent game at Anfield. That raised eyebrows but Confidential was told this was just a trip on a weekend where Ajax had no game.
Hato is a slightly different profile of left back to Kerkez, more intricate rather than bombing up and down the flank.
Another name is SERGI CARDONA at Villarreal, who joined the club from Las Palmas in a free transfer just last summer. He has been monitored by Liverpool in the last 18 months.
Left-footed ANDREA CAMBIASO, who has played as both a right winger and left back this season for Juventus, is emerging as one of the most-wanted full backs in Europe but Manchester City are said to be leading that race.
Confidential asked a data expert at global company PLAIER, which provides its complex scouting database to multiple elite clubs in Europe, to run the numbers on left backs that could replace Tsimikas or Robertson in the next few years and got some interesting results.
The usual suspects cropped up, including Newcastle’s LEWIS HALL, but two left-field names came out: FABIANO PARISI of Fiorentina and JUNNOSUKE SUZUKI who plays in Japan’s J-League.
PLAIER is leading the AI revolution within football to help sides make better informed decisions on and off the pitch and these would be three names that would be recommended to Liverpool should, like many clubs, use their system.
Shopping closer to home, Hall, RAYAN AIT-NOURI or ANTONEE ROBINSON of Wolves and Fulham respectively are impressive. But the former has been criticised for a lack of consistency while the latter – who was man of the match at Anfield this year – is 27 and maybe too old.
Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolves has not kicked on this season and may fall out of contention
Antonee Robinson was man of the match for Fulham at Anfield this season but at 27 may be too old to be a long-term solution
Whatever happens, it is worth adding that Robertson is in superb form at the moment, is an integral member of the leadership group and will be in no rush to give up his starting jersey.
Reds sweat on Alexander-Arnold fitness
Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Newcastle – but no serious damage has been suffered and it is hoped he can still play again this season.
The right back limped off in the Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday with an ankle injury and underwent scans today.
Given the fact it took Alexander-Arnold nearly four minutes to walk from the far side of the pitch to the tunnel, it looks ominous for him and his involvement in the Carabao Cup final would be seen as a minor miracle.
Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off in the Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday with an ankle injury and will undergo scans today
This also gives a headache to new England boss Thomas Tuchel who names his first squad on Friday
This also gives a headache to new England boss Thomas Tuchel who names his first squad on Friday.
Ankle injuries can look worse than they are in the first hours as it is difficult to walk at all so it could settle quickly and be better than many fear. But it did not look good as Alexander-Arnold headed straight down the tunnel.
It was feared he had also suffered a knee injury in the fall but it looks like this has been avoided. While it is too soon to put any timescale on recovery, it appears the injury is not as bad as some worried.
Ibrahima Konate, meanwhile, is expected to be OK for Sunday after being substituted due to fatigue. Jarell Quansah will fill in at right back should Alexander-Arnold miss out as expected, with Conor Bradley injured.
Kelleher in line to start final
Caoimhin Kelleher is more likely than not to start the Carabao Cup final on Sunday over No 1 goalkeeper Alisson.
Alisson returned for one leg in the semi-final against Tottenham but that decision was more down to the fact the Brazilian needed rhythm after missing several weeks with a hamstring injury.
Confidential believes Slot always likes to play his No 2 goalkeeper in the domestic cups and this is a fluid decision, one which he will not make for sure until later this week.
Kelleher was between the posts for Liverpool’s victory in this competition last season, though Alisson was injured at the time. He was also the goalkeeper when they won the domestic cup double in 2022.
Caoimhin Kelleher was the hero in 2022 when Liverpool won the domestic cup double
Are Liverpool going Down Under?
No.
Any Liverpool fans planning a trip to Melbourne after an Australian newspaper last night reported that the English champions-elect were set to play the A-League All-Stars at the MCG in a post-season friendly should stand down.
Sadly for those fancying a trip Down Under, Confidential has learned that this is just the rumour mill and there are no plans to fly to the other side of the world just hours after the season finishes.
Liverpool will instead, they hope, be on Merseyside partying after winning their 20th league title!
Liverpool sold out the MCG in 2013 but any talk of them heading back there is premature
Doak not given up hope of playing part in play-off push
Confidential regulars will remember hearing a fortnight ago how Middlesbrough’s poor form coincided with Liverpool loanee Ben Doak being absent.
It was hoped back then that Doak would be fit to start training again by around now – but as the pain persisted, all parties agreed it would be best for the young Scotsman to have minor surgery on his thigh.
There is still a hope in Doak’s camp that he will play again this season but he is now back on Merseyside for rehabilitation work.
Liverpool rejected two bids for him in the January transfer window, from Crystal Palace and Ipswich respectively, and see him as one that can have a long-term future at Anfield if his career continues in the same trajectory.
Slot and Van Dijk’s watching brief
Arne Slot, Virgil Van Dijk and Sir Kenny Dalglish were among those spotted on the balcony watching on as Liverpool’s Under 21s drew 1-1 with West Ham at Kirkby last weekend.
The trio enjoyed the game as Kieran Morrison’s stoppage-time free-kick was deflected into West Ham’s goal to claim a late equaliser.
It means a lot to the young kids and youth coaches to see the ‘top brass’ watching on. And with the Premier League title perhaps being wrapped up with games to spare, some youngsters may get a chance to impress in the first team this season.
It is not going unnoticed either that ‘King Kenny’ Dalglish is a regular at the training base in recent months. In terms of a soundboard for Slot, they do not come much bigger and better than the Reds legend.
Virgil van Dijk and Arne Slot watching on as Liverpool’s Under 21s took on West Ham
Mixed zone diaries
No dramas in the mixed zone this week — apart from the sheer number of French journalists throwing their weight around — but one thing to note is just how popular these Liverpool players are worldwide.
To us who watch them every week, they might just seem like another player. But Dominik Szoboszlai this week attracted a crowd of FIVE Hungarian journalists who made the trip to Anfield to see the midfielder.
The 24-year-old captain of his country is the poster boy of Hungary and is powering them to their best era for some decades alongside several other talented stars.
Wataru Endo often has Japanese reporters trying to stop him for a chat – he nearly always stops for an extended catch-up – even if he does not play.
Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai are always popular in the mixed zone
The French press were slightly disappointed, though, that Endo was the player put up for media duties in Paris last week. They wanted local lad Ibrahima Konate to speak but he has already done one press conference this season. ‘No Ibou, no?,’ asked one local reporter.
Mohamed Salah remains as elusive as ever though he was spotted sprinting up and down the mixed zone on Saturday playing a game of tag with his children. Mind yourself, Mo, you don’t want any unnecessary injuries now!
Hinds determined to make a change for good
What should have been a memorable weekend for Liverpool’s women’s team was sadly overshadowed as left back Taylor Hinds reported that she was subject to sexually inappropriate comments from a member of the crowd during the FA Cup quarter-final win at Arsenal.
Confidential understands Hinds, 25, was determined to go public with what happened to help other players in the women’s game. Liverpool supported her and prepared her for a possible social-media pile-on.
She wrote: ‘All current women’s players and I are playing the sport we love and should be able to do so without fearing such occurrences. Every young girl out there hoping and dreaming of becoming a footballer should know that she can do so safely and happily.
Taylor Hinds had to report sexually inappropriate comments from the crowd in the FA Cup quarter-final win at Arsenal
It should have been a joyful day for Liverpool as they stunned record 14-time winners Arsenal
‘I will not let the actions of one individual ruin what was a fantastic day for the team and our supporters but it is not okay and I was determined to make a stand.
‘It was hard for my mum and dad to not realise what was going on and to find out later what was being shouted at their daughter during a game of football.
‘I’m doing fine and would like to thank my teammates and everyone at Liverpool for having my back, as well as the match officials for their swift actions and everyone at Arsenal for their assertive actions and backing.
‘Together we can continue to make our sport better both now and for the years to come.’
The man, who was with his daughter at the match, admitted what he said was wrong but refused to apologise to Hinds.
Liverpool Women are playing at Anfield on Friday against Manchester United and tickets are on sale at £10 for adults and £4 for juniors. The Kop and Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand are open for the 7.15pm kick-off.
Did you get Sadio Mane in your list of 20 players who had played for Liverpool and Southampton?
Peter Crouch is another ex-Red who scored against them in Southampton colours
Red Riddle
Last week, I asked you to name 20 players who had played for both Liverpool and last Saturday’s opponents Southampton. Anything in the teens would be good, I said.
Here are the answers: Steven Caulker, Nathaniel Clyne, Peter Crouch, Bruce Grobelaar, Danny Guthrie, Danny Ings, Paul Jones, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren, Sadio Mane, Takumi Minamino, Jon Otsemobor, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Darren Potter, Jamie Redknapp, Barry Venison, Gregory Vignal, Mark Walters and Virgil van Dijk.
Now, to give my fingers a rest after typing all of them out, I’ll make this week’s Riddle a bit easier. Well, easier in terms of the number of answers anyway.
As the Reds will return to adidas from next season, I’m asking you to name the first goalscorer of Liverpool’s Nike era (August 2020 to present). And for good measure, the last goalscorer of the New Balance era (ended July 2020). Friendlies do not count.
