By Filip Mishov
With AFC Bournemouth flying excessive this season, sitting in seventh within the Premier League on the time of writing, it was inevitable that the Cherries’ younger stars would catch the attention of England’s prime golf equipment, and that’s actually the case with their proficient left again, Milos Kerkez.
FotMob understands from sources in Hungary that Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis and Chelsea are all carefully following his growth, however the Purple Devils are main the race to signal the 21-year-old defender, who has began each match in England’s top-flight this season. Nevertheless, Bournemouth are beneath no stress to promote with the Hungarian worldwide who’s contracted on a long-term deal till 2028, and Invoice Foley & co. are set to ask north of £35m if the curiosity materialises within the participant, who arrived on the Vitality Stadium from AZ Alkmaar simply 18 months in the past for reportedly for a price across the £15m mark.
Right here, we analyse Kerkez’s probably vacation spot, if the left again is to go away in the course of the January switch window, and provides the lowdown on what makes him one of many prime full-back prospects within the Premier League in addition to Europe, regardless of questions remaining about his character.
United in determined want of recent power on the left flank
Although every of the 5 golf equipment talked about maintain an curiosity in signing the prodigy, Manchester United’s want for a brand new left wing-back is essentially the most pressing, and FotMob understands that Kerkez is among the main candidates on the membership’s shortlist to strengthen the squad in the course of the January switch window.
The Hungarian impressed Rúben Amorim in final month’s audition at Outdated Trafford, and it’s fairly telling that Tyrell Malacia has not performed a single minute since that 3-0 defeat to the Cherries, a match wherein Kerkez earned a 7.3 FotMob ranking, whereas the Dutchman was hooked at half-time with a damning 5.7 ranking. Moreover, with Luke Shaw and Malacia’s damage troubles over the previous couple of seasons and Amorim’s change of system to 3-4-3, the 21-year-old could possibly be the best answer on the left flank for the newly-appointed head coach. Moreover, experiences point out that Kerkez is extraordinarily focused on a transfer to Manchester United and would relish the possibility to play on the Theatre of Goals, with the Kerkez household being lifelong supporters of the membership, and the participant himself spoke in regards to the curiosity final 12 months, referring to Nemanja Vidić as his childhood idol.
The tough diamond can grow to be one of many world’s greatest left backs beneath the correct coach, though doubts exist about his character
With 48 Premier League’s appearances beneath his belt on the age of 21, it’s truthful to say that Kerkez is just not solely a younger and proficient left again, however a reasonably skilled one for his age. Additionally, with three assists and one objective scored this season, the Hungarian ranks among the many prime 5 full-backs within the Premier League based mostly on objective involvements, and solely Trent Alexander-Arnold (5), Pedro Porro (6), Antonee Robinson (7) and Rayan Ait Nouri (8) are forward of him.
With that being mentioned, doubts stay over his character, and sources in Hungary clarify that if judged solely by his expertise, his world-class potential and on pitch talents, the 21-year-old could be prime of Manchester United’s shortlist and the opposite events, however some folks inside the membership have doubts in regards to the participant’s character and whether or not the Hungarian is mentally able to make the following step now and excel at a prime stage membership.
Additionally, figuring excessive on a shortlist that features the likes of Alphonso Davies, Theo Hernández and Nuno Mendes amongst others, simply reveals how extremely rated Kerkez actually is. However, regardless of the doubts about his mentality, the left again solely turned 21 in November and beneath the correct teaching workers, he has all of the instruments and time on his facet to enhance, each on and off the pitch. One other think about Kerkez’s favour is his tactical versatility, because the environment friendly dribbler is able to taking part in each as a left again in a four-man defence and as a left wing-back in a three-man defence, a job he occupies for his nationwide workforce, which provides the coaches quite a lot of choices on easy methods to use him.
Abstract
The Cherries are in no rush to promote and are conscious that a number of the events, like Manchester United, discover themselves in a decent monetary scenario in January, plus they consider Kerkez’s worth and subsequently, worth will solely rise if he continues to carry out properly within the second a part of the season and if they will probably keep their push for securing European soccer for subsequent season.
Lastly, with the market of younger, proficient and pretty skilled left backs within the Premier League being restricted, and with Liverpool’s ever-growing want to search out Andrew Robertson‘s successor, with Joško Gvardiol being Man Metropolis’s solely left again choice, and Arsenal’s endless seek for defensive reinforcements, it is perhaps in Bournemouth’s greatest curiosity to withstand any makes an attempt to half methods with Kerkez in January because the summer time is perhaps the best time to money in on him.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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