Liverpool make final decision on transfer as contract offered to Premier League star

Liverpool will be keen to bolster their squad this summer as they attempt to defend their Premier League title and could potentially look to sign a number of players from the rivals

Liverpool have put Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez at the top of their summer shopping list despite interest in Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri. The Reds are keen to sign a new left-back before next season, and have been scouring Europe for options.

Some contenders have emerged within the Premier League for Liverpool, with Ait-Nouri and Kerkez having become two of the most accomplished fullbacks in the division over recent seasons. But it appears that Arne Slot and the Anfield decision makers have a preference.

According to The Telegraph, Kerkez is their number one target for the summer window despite having scouted Ait-Nouri on a number of occasions. Manchester City also reportedly hold an interest in the Wolves defender.

The Midland club’s stance on the Algerian also makes the prospect of a deal in the immediate future tricky. Wolves are preparing an offer of a new contract to keep the £50m-rated full-back at Molineux beyond this summer.

Ait-Nouri has two years remaining on his current deal, with former club Angers holding a 50 per cent sell-on clause in any future deal. But Wolves are reportedly expected to buy that out for a fee of around £9million and are hopeful of agreeing terms on an extended stay before pre-season.

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That would leave Liverpool prioritising a deal for Kerkez. The Hungarian joined Bournemouth from Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar in 2023 but has shone this season with two goals and six assists in the Premier League.

It has previously been reported that Bournemouth want to bank around £45m should they decide to sell the defender, with boss Andoni Iraola seemingly open to a deal. He said: “I don’t think it’s any different from previous years, especially when the team has done a good job.

“It happened to us last season. We didn’t know what was going to happen with some players. We lost Lloyd Kelly and after that Dom Solanke.

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“We don’t really know what is going to happen in the summer, we are still focused on other things, but right now all the players are ours and, if nothing happens, they will continue to be ours next season also. So I don’t think it’s going to be different from other summers.

“We will focus on trying to improve the team, and add new players if we can, and if some player leaves because someone comes with what the club considers to be a good offer, we have to be ready for those situations, but not with fear. It is something that all the clubs, especially the ones who are not at the highest level like the top, top teams, have to get used to.”

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