Manager issues Milos Kerkez statement as Liverpool transfer moves step closer
Hungary national team boss Marco Rossi has revealed Milos Kerkez will miss Friday's international friendly against Sweden as his transfer to Liverpool moves closer. The Bournemouth left-back had been expected to feature against the Swedes in Budapest but it appears the Reds are now closing in on Arne Slot's defensive target.
Speaking in a press conference on Thursday, Rossi issued a cryptic message when explaining that both Kerkez and striker Barnabas Varga would be unavailable.
Rossi said: "Of course, a few problems may creep in, for example, for various reasons, neither Milos Kerkez nor Barnabas Varga will be in tomorrow's match."
Kerkez appears to have teased the transfer is nearing completion himself by captioning an Instagram post with eye emojis. He has already given his approval to Liverpool, who have been working on finalising a deal with Bournemouth.
Talks have been slightly complicated by the fact Cherries technical director Simon Francis has been in the United States this week representing Bournemouth in The Soccer Tournament in North Carolina.
Francis has been leading negotiations with former Bournemouth chief Richard Hughes, who is now working as Liverpool's sporting director. Kerkez quickly emerged as Liverpool's primary left-back target as they look to sign competition for Andy Robertson.
Greece international Kostas Tsimikas is expected to depart Anfield this summer and is attracting interest from both the Premier League and Europe. If Kerkez, 21, does sign on the dotted line at Anfield, he will team up with international team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai on Merseyside.
Meanwhile, the Reds also remain in talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a club-record deal for Florian Wirtz. So far, they have seen two offers rejected by the German club but negotiations are advanced and are expected to reach a positive conclusion soon.
Kop boss Slot is understood to have met with Lyon attacker Rayan Cherki over the past week but the Frenchman now looks poised to join Manchester City. Liverpool were only likely to pursue a deal if an agreement for Wirtz failed to materialise as they look to strengthen their forward options.
The Premier League champions have already sold goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford in an £18m deal as the Republic of Ireland international was keen to pursue regular football.
An approach from Barcelona for Luis Diaz has also been rejected and Diaz has since admitted he would be open to staying at Anfield this summer even though a new contract does not currently look to be on the cards.
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