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.

Possibly, Trent Alexander-Arnold stood an opportunity of knocking his hero away from prime spot, however he’d have wanted to dedicate the whole lot of his profession to his boyhood membership to realize this, and as a substitute will signal for Actual Madrid on a free switch aged 26.

Trent’s determination heightens the scenario occurring at each of Liverpool’s defensive flanks. Andy Robertson, 31, nonetheless has a 12 months 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 assist although he has.

Cody Gakpo’s season in numbers

It is fascinating 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 utterly misplaced his manner, however there isn’t any query issues have been taken down a notch. That is not true in Gakpo’s case, although, along with his efforts this 12 months resulting in a return of 17 objectives 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 recreation, restricted him to a goalscoring obligation 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 prime 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous 12 months for non-penalty objectives 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 subsequent 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 prime of the procuring listing.

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 recreation to the subsequent stage.

The Bournemouth man may solely be younger however he is made fairly the identify for himself throughout the previous 12 months, posting two objectives and 5 assists within the Premier League this 12 months, creating eight large probabilities, as per Sofascore, successful 60% of his floor duels and averaging 4.5 ball recoveries per recreation.

Additionally rating among the many prime 14% of full-backs within the English prime flight this time period for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, the Hungary worldwide has the burners to use stress on his opponents forward of him, thus permitting Gakpo the time and house to search out higher positions and possibly carry his purpose tally even larger subsequent 12 months.

It is price noting Robertson, having did not register a purpose contribution within the league this 12 months, has averaged 0.2 dribbles per recreation, 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 large probabilities within the Premier League, as per Sofascore, having transformed 9 strikes.

With one thing younger and hungry behind him, overlapping and proving a basic thorn in his opponents’ sides, Kerkez is strictly 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 method 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 (which means Kostas Tsimikas will should be offered), Kerkez ought to discover himself taking the first-choice spot, not solely finishing the defence and restoring some much-needed creativity to the huge 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 suits the invoice. Bringing such tempo and efficiency down the channel, such vitality and enthusiasm, Kerkez would remember to elevate Gakpo’s recreation to the subsequent stage, putting the proper steadiness that might see Slot defend his Premier League crown.