Liverpool is reportedly nearing the signing of another “unbelievable” defender. This potential transfer includes a clause in the player`s contract that would require the Reds to pay Chelsea approximately £10 million.
Defensive Reinforcements: Kerkez Signing Announced
It has been a very active summer for the Premier League champions, with several new faces arriving at Anfield. Last week, the Reds confirmed the club-record signing of Florian Wirtz for £116 million, and now they have also announced the acquisition of defender Milos Kerkez from AFC Bournemouth.
The left-back joins Liverpool for a fee of £40 million, having successfully completed his medical examination and signed a long-term contract. Speaking in his initial interview with the club, Kerkez described joining the Premier League giants as a “real honour.”
`I`m really happy. It`s a real honour for me, a privilege to come to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, [the] biggest club in England. I`m just really, really happy and excited.`
`After this, I`ll go home and in my hometown enjoy a few days, and then I can`t really wait to come back and put the training kit on and start to train and prepare for the season.`
Further defensive signings are anticipated beyond Kerkez, with Nottingham Forest`s centre-back Murillo also on Liverpool`s radar. Although the Reds admire the Brazilian defender, they are reportedly hesitant due to his £80 million valuation. Additionally, Ajax defender Jorrel Hato has been identified as a potential transfer target this window. However, any moves for Murillo or Hato are expected to hinge on the outcome of their primary target pursuit: Marc Guehi.
Liverpool Closing In on Marc Guehi
Guehi has become the Reds` priority target for the centre-back position. According to reports, Liverpool are now close to finalizing a deal for Guehi with Crystal Palace.
The report indicates that Liverpool is prepared to speed up negotiations with Palace for the England international, especially as Jarell Quansah`s transfer to Bayer Leverkusen appears imminent. With Guehi entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, Liverpool aims to capitalize on his situation by signing him for an estimated £40-45 million.
This development follows recent reports suggesting that personal terms between Liverpool and Guehi are close to being agreed upon.
If the defender completes his move to the Premier League champions for a fee around £45 million, Liverpool would be required to pay Chelsea approximately £9 million. This is due to a 20% sell-on clause included in the deal when Guehi transferred from Stamford Bridge to Crystal Palace in 2021.
| Marc Guehi`s 24/25 Premier League stats | |
|---|---|
| Apps | 34 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Touches per game | 64.9 |
| Passing accuracy per game | 43.1 (84%) |
| Clean sheets | 11 |
| Interceptions per game | 0.8 |
| Tackles per game | 1.8 |
| Balls recovered per game | 4.3 |
| Aerial duels (won) | 2.0 (54%) |
| Ground duels (won) | 2.9 (63%) |
Guehi, described as “unbelievable” by podcast host Aaron Moniz, captained Crystal Palace (the Eagles) to FA Cup victory last season. This achievement capped off a strong season where he also scored three goals in 34 Premier League appearances.
His consistent performances for Palace have also earned him significant international recognition, resulting in 23 caps for the England national team.
