Liverpool line up move for £45m “machine”

Steven Gerrard might be essentially the most influential and peerless Liverpool affiliate of the twenty first century, and that status is not going to budge.

Perhaps, Trent Alexander-Arnold stood an opportunity of knocking his hero away from high spot, however he’d have wanted to dedicate everything of his profession to his boyhood membership to attain this, and as an alternative will signal for Actual Madrid on a free switch aged 26.

Trent’s resolution heightens the state of affairs happening at each of Liverpool’s defensive flanks. Andy Robertson, 31, nonetheless has a yr left on his deal however has waned in affect and safety this time period, and heirs are being thought-about forward of the switch window.

Regardless of the problems Liverpool have confronted at left-back, Cody Gakpo has nonetheless managed to go from power to power on the left wing, missing the fascinating stream of inventive help although he has.

Cody Gakpo’s season in numbers

It is attention-grabbing that Gakpo ought to have hit his smoothest stride in a Liverpool shirt this season regardless of Robertson’s declining inventive output.

This is not to say that the left-back has fully misplaced his approach, however there is no query issues have been taken down a notch. That is not true in Gakpo’s case, although, along with his efforts this yr resulting in a return of 17 targets and 6 assists throughout all competitions, together with 29 begins.

A shrewd and dynamic grtasp of the basics had led Jurgen Klopp to play the Dutchman throughout a variety of roles final season, however Arne Slot has shaved the fats off Gakpo’s sport, restricted him to a goalscoring responsibility off the left flank.

It is paid dividends, with pundits Joe Cole and Peter Crouch agreeing that he has “gone up one other stage” in his countryman’s tactical set-up.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the many high 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for non-penalty targets scored per 90, highlighting Slot’s success in sharpening his scientific edge into one thing eager and lethal.

Robertson nonetheless performs his half, crisp in possession and with a close-knit reference to Virgil van Dijk, however Liverpool are able to signal an improve who may take Gakpo to the following stage.

Liverpool chasing new left-back

Following the newest from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are certainly prepared to deal with their left-back conundrum after Robertson’s up-and-down season, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez on the high of the buying checklist.

With the Cherries, who’re pushing for Europe, able to promote the 21-year-old for a £45m determine, that is one FSG will likely be giving their full consideration to.

Nonetheless, Kerkez is the prototypical fashionable full-back and would make Slot’s system that a lot better.

Think about Gakpo & Milos Kerkez collectively

Gakpo is mainly a goalscorer, however he is additionally a ahead of spectacular physicality, inflicting issues for opponents and getting caught in with duels and dribbles.

Kerkez will take his sport to the following stage.

The Bournemouth man may solely be younger however he is made fairly the title for himself throughout the previous yr, posting two targets and 5 assists within the Premier League this yr, creating eight huge probabilities, as per Sofascore, successful 60% of his floor duels and averaging 4.5 ball recoveries per sport.

Additionally rating among the many high 14% of full-backs within the English high flight this time period for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, the Hungary worldwide has the burners to use strain on his opponents forward of him, thus permitting Gakpo the time and house to seek out higher positions and possibly elevate his aim tally even increased subsequent yr.

It is value noting Robertson, having did not register a aim contribution within the league this yr, has averaged 0.2 dribbles per sport, night out to 1 each 5 matches.

Fortunately, Gakpo has stepped up and produced the products, impressively successful 56% of his floor duels, finishing 60% of his dribbles and lacking simply six huge probabilities within the Premier League, as per Sofascore, having transformed 9 strikes.

With one thing younger and hungry behind him, overlapping and proving a common thorn in his opponents’ sides, Kerkez is precisely what Liverpool want, having already been singled out as a “machine” by Sky Sports activities’ Izzy Christansen for his tireless and combative performances.

Kerkez’s strengths as an attacking full-back are precisely what Slot wants, maybe demonstrating a mode of soccer that Robertson would have been capable of match and even surpass again in his pomp, however Father Time has crept up on the Scotland skipper after so a few years of gruelling service at Liverpool.

Whereas Robertson ought to preserve his place within the Liverpool squad (that means Kostas Tsimikas will should be bought), Kerkez ought to discover himself taking the first-choice spot, not solely finishing the defence and restoring some much-needed creativity to the vast positions however driving Gakpo’s journey even additional into the limelight.

Athletic and adventurous, Kerkez has dazzled for Bournemouth this season, a core a part of Andoni Iraola’s efforts and, simply possibly, success in securing a spot on the continent for the primary time within the Vitality Stadium’s historical past.

However Liverpool want a brand new left-back, and he matches the invoice. Bringing such tempo and efficiency down the channel, such vitality and enthusiasm, Kerkez would you should definitely elevate Gakpo’s sport to the following stage, placing the proper stability that might see Slot defend his Premier League crown.