£45m “Revelation” Has Now “Said Yes” to Joining Liverpool, He Could Be Van Dijk 2.0
Arne Slot’s tactical adjustments have propelled Liverpool to their 20th league title, marking a triumphant first season since Jurgen Klopp chose to step away and entrust the job to fresh leadership.
Liverpool’s Premier League dominance has been evident throughout the season, establishing themselves as firm favourites for the trophy after Manchester City faltered following Rodri’s injury, and Arsenal failed to sustain the necessary consistency amidst injury setbacks.
Klopp, famed for his high-intensity, gegenpressing football, built a reputation as a master of the energetic, counter-attacking style.
While Slot has introduced several changes, many things remain familiar. Mohamed Salah continues to be Liverpool’s talisman, showing perhaps more confidence and refinement than ever before.
Virgil van Dijk, though already widely regarded as a top player, has been exceptional once again. His world-record signing from Southampton for £75m has long been considered a masterstroke.
At the time of the transfer, rivals scoffed at Liverpool’s willingness to spend such a sum on what they perceived as a merely competent defender.
Yet Van Dijk has proven to be a monumental, game-changing presence, consistently acknowledged as one of the standout players of his generation. Jamie Carragher even claimed on social media that he is “the best centre-back we’ve ever seen in the Premier League”.
In April, the 33-year-old secured a new two-year contract, ensuring he remains Liverpool’s captain until 2027. Given his crucial contributions under Slot this season, retaining him has undoubtedly been a major victory for the club.
With a blend of tough tackling, tactical intelligence, and commanding leadership, Van Dijk represents the ideal defender for a team pursuing top honours.
It is also worth noting his reliability. Throughout his Premier League tenure at Liverpool, the only period of extended absence came after an injury caused by Jordan Pickford, highlighting Van Dijk’s remarkable durability.
Liverpool identified a golden opportunity years ago and seized it with conviction, a decision that has continued to pay off every season. Sporting director Richard Hughes faces a demanding task, but judging by his actions, Liverpool might be on the verge of securing a similarly significant signing in the coming weeks.
Liverpool Agree Terms With Premier League Star
Fabrizio Romano reports that Liverpool have agreed personal terms with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, who has given the green light to a move to Merseyside this summer. Talks are still ongoing between the clubs, as Romano pointed out.
While a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz remains on Liverpool’s radar, the club are determined to secure Kerkez, with the need for a new left-back ranking high on the list of priorities heading into the summer window.
Previous reports indicate that Bournemouth owner Bill Foley is seeking a £45 million fee to part with Kerkez, which is a significant sum. However, Liverpool understand when a deal is worth pursuing – and in this case, it certainly is.
Why Liverpool are Desperate for Milos Kerkez
Van Dijk brought a new level of defensive excellence to Liverpool, and his arrival became the turning point for Klopp’s project. What started as an exciting team with a feel-good factor evolved into one capable of true greatness.
It might seem a stretch to suggest that Kerkez could make a similarly transformative impact, yet he is undoubtedly one of the most promising full-backs in the game. At just 21 years old, the “frightening thing is he’s not even at his peak yet,” as pundit Izzy Christensen noted.
How good Kerkez will become remains to be seen, but what can be done is to examine the available data so far.
| Milos Kerkez vs Andy Robertson in the Prem (24/25) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Match Stats (*per game) | Kerkez | Robertson |
| Matches (starts) | 38 (38) | 33 (29) |
| Goals | 2 | 0 |
| Assists | 5 | 1 |
| Touches* | 59.6 | 64.5 |
| Pass completion | 80% | 88% |
| Big chances created | 8 | 7 |
| Ball recoveries* | 4.4 | 3.2 |
| Dribbles* | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Tackles + interceptions* | 2.6 | 1.8 |
| Clearances* | 2.6 | 1.3 |
| Ground duels (won)* | 3.3 (61%) | 1.6 (52%) |
| Stats Source: Sofascore | ||
Andy Robertson has been hailed as an “absolute legend” by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher, yet at 31, he no longer possesses the same energy and dynamism he once had, showing reduced movement and less creative contribution.
This shift is partly due to the tactical adjustments introduced by Arne Slot, which have seen Robertson adopt a more cautious and secure role within Klopp’s system. However, it’s clear that he is past his prime.
Milos Kerkez has demonstrated greater creativity and activity across nearly every Premier League metric this season, making this upgrade essential for Liverpool if they aim to build on their title-winning success.
Liverpool fought hard throughout the 2024/25 campaign and ultimately triumphed despite certain weaknesses, but Kerkez’s addition would inject vitality into the defence and restore balance to its fullest potential.
Virgil van Dijk undoubtedly set the standard, enabling Klopp’s ambitious vision to take root within FSG, who recognised that Liverpool could be propelled to the forefront of both domestic and European football and maintain that status.
In the 2016/17 season, Liverpool’s last full campaign without van Dijk, they finished fourth, conceding 42 goals. Two years later, in the season when the Reds lifted the Champions League, they finished second with 97 points, boasting the division’s stingiest defence, having conceded only 22 goals.
Although Kerkez is still young, he already brings significant Premier League experience, having featured 66 times and contributed to ten goal involvements as a vital component of Andoni Iraola’s emerging Bournemouth side.
Praised for his “winning mentality” by journalist Richard Henczi, Kerkez is considered a genuine talent, having attracted interest from Manchester City and Real Madrid before Liverpool took the lead and made it clear he would be playing at Anfield next season, barring any unexpected obstacles.
Carragher describes Kerkez as a “revelation at Bournemouth,” and there is strong confidence within Slot’s team that he could have the same impact for Liverpool.
Kerkez has begun his Premier League journey impressively, standing out at a rising mid-table club and catching the eye of football’s biggest names.
Van Dijk followed a similar path, arriving at Liverpool from Southampton and, when his time comes to depart, he will be remembered as a legend.
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