Liverpool in four-team WAR for priority transfer target

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes appear to be planning a big summer. With Mohamed Salah now contracted until 2027 - and Virgil van Dijk shortly to follow suit - transfers can now be planned with a little more certainty.

While the club are known to be interested in adding a No9 - with Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and Alexander Isak all linked - another priority position which has been identified is left-back.

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Premier League stars like Antonee Robinson of Fulhm and Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves have previously been linked but recent reports suggest that the shortlist has been reduced to only two names.

READ MORE: Hugo Ekitike is BEGGING to be Liverpool's first €100m signing

Those are Jorrel Hato of Ajax and the player seen to be the No1 target in the left-back position - Milos Kerkez. The Bournemouth defender, 21, was signed once before by Hughes, when he was technical director at the south coast side.

Kerkez identified as Liverpool target

Liverpool would love to repeat that transfer trick with it mooted that Bournemouth might well accept around £45 million to let go of their first-choice left-back.

But now it appears that Liverpool face INCREASED transfer competition for the Hungary international and are not going to have it all their own way in the chase.

That’s according to the Athletic’s transfer insider David Ornstein, who claims that one more Premier League club - and two in Italy - have got Kerkez on the list.

Man City, Milan and Napoli want Kerkez

“Let's see what happens with Milos Kerkez, he's attracting interest from clubs the size of Liverpool, Manchester City, and on the continent AC Milan and Napoli as well,” Ornstein said on NBC.

City have been fielding Josko Gvardiol at left-back for much of the season even though the Croatian is a centre-back by trade. In recent matches he’s moved to the middle as Nico O’Reilly has come into the side at left-back.

Milan are expecting to lose Theo Hernandez in summer and the San Siro side featured Kerkez in their youth ranks in previous seasons.

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Napoli, meanwhile, tend to play Uruguayan Mathias Olivera at left-back but Antonio Conte looks to be shopping in the Premier League for reinforcements.