The Cherries’ Next Big Thing

May 30, 2025

Andoni Iraola’s cherries showed even more promise this season and knocked on the doors of Europe.

One of the standout features of his side became the impressive youth talents who made an impact in the team’s push.

With Dean Huijsen moving to Real Madrid, it seems only a matter of time before Milos Kerkez finds himself on a top side.

For two seasons now, Kerkez continues to demonstrate flashes of elite potential. The left back fits the modern mold that many elite clubs are willing to break the bank for.

Finishing the season with two goals and five assists, the Hungarian showed that he could offer a threat from a wider position. Not a slouch on the defensive end either, Kerkez played an important role in a solid Bournemouth backline. Given his age, the left back promises to still have room to improve, making him a unique prospect.

While plenty of top clubs already employ starting-quality left-backs, the Hungarian will still have his suitors. Already proven in the Premier League, the left back seems to have a high floor as a starter on a top-six side with an even higher ceiling. With Liverpool’s backline facing changes in the coming months, it feels that Kerkez is the best choice for him.

Huijsen stole the headlines for most of the season, thanks to his elite performances, but Kerkez rivaled him.

The Hungarian now faces a summer where Europe’s top clubs will want his signature.

Kerkez’s profile shows the truly modern fullback with shades of previous eras. Clearly resembling a winger pushed deeper, the left-back still possesses good defensive instincts.

PHOTO: AFC Bournemouth/Twitter/X

Perhaps the area where Kerekz is truly elite is his dribbling. Able to carry the ball forward and take on opposing fullbacks, he opens the game further for the attack. Having a fullback that can dribble in this manner forces opponents to drift, pulling defenders from bigger threats.

Additionally, this allows him to demonstrate his own passing range. While Kerkez struggles with helping in the buildup, like a winger, he impacts the game in the final third. Through creating chances with final passes or crosses, this is the best way that Kerkez opens the offense up.

His mediocre, when compared to peers, passing completion percentage of 80% remains concerning. However, Kerkez’s elite numbers in chance creation and crossing suggest that his best role is similar to Cucarella’s. One where the team affords him the chance to play almost like a wider midfielder, having defensive cover to plug the hole left behind.

Defensively, Kerkez holds his own. Yes, his tackle win percentages are rather pedestrian, but you’d imagine with a good backline behind him that could be mitigated.

Despite those concerns, Kerkez still profiles as a capable defender, especially when it comes to interceptions. This fits the mold of the modern fullback, where the more high-paced play from the position rewards those who can stop play in motion. However, a style of play like this still requires a competent enough defensive scheme.

In plenty of ways, Kerkez checks the boxes of almost every manager’s modern wishlist for fullbacks.

While not elite in one area, being above average in every facet of the game remains an incredibly valuable skill set.

After seasoning himself in the Prem, Kerkez proved to all suitors that he can play at the highest level. While plenty of clubs see him as an ideal target as a future cornerstone to a defense, Liverpool feels like the best fit.

Arne Slot’s title-winning season seems to be an example of a transitional period. Serving as a send-off for a few key players, the title win marked the end of the Klopp era. Yes, Salah and van Djik extended their stays with the Reds, but the rest of the roster is less set in stone.

Andy Robertson became the league’s best left back under Klopp, electrifying the Kop with his play. However, especially with Frimpong’s arrival, the Scottish international’s future may lay elsewhere.

Should Liverpool move off of Robertson, or even desire a good backup, Kerkez promises to be a great foil to Frimpong. The Dutch right wingback finished last season as perhaps the best player in his position, but Kerkez has yet to reach those levels. Slot surely would hope that Frimpong could contribute more right away, while slowly bringing Kerkez up to speed.

One more interesting wrinkle in this potential move corresponds with Andrew Robertson’s profile. Still a threat out wide, even if those numbers continue to dip, his impact mirrors the profile of Kerkez well. Neither claims to be elite defensively, but they demand attention given to their ability to take on opponents.

Entering the season with a potential left-back rotation of Kerkez and Robertson would be the best in the Prem. Having the experience of Robertson could help Kerkez acclimate to a tougher situation where a certain level is required. Unlike Frimpong, who proved himself as world-class in Germany, Kerkez still needs to be eased into a top-flight, and Robertson would help.

Fresh off a title win, Liverpool still enters this summer in a bit of a rebuilding stage.

Given the necessary transition between Klopp and Slot, Kerkez would help push them into that new era.

Bournemouth deserves its flowers for identifying elite talents who were bubbling under the surface. Both Kerkez and Huijsen proved to be some of the best transfers as of late.