Alexader Isak and Milos Kerkez ‘two certs’ for Liverpool in transfer window
Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez will both have to join Liverpool this summer if the Reds are to have any hopes of being title-challengers next season, according to Richard Keys.
Isak has been linked with Liverpool since January, with current strikers Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota looking exit-bound following a paltry 11 Premier League goals between them.
Whilst the Reds have faced little challenge from their competitors for the title in Arne Slot’s first season in England, the 2024/25 season is expected to be an anomaly in that regard, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man City all expected to invest heavily in the summer.
Becoming champions-elect has been a relatively simple task, but during the process, several holes have been exposed in Liverpool’s playing squad, including the left-back position, where Andy Robertson has looked a shell of the rampaging and relentless player he once was.
Bournemouth’s Kerkez has been identified by Liverpool as a target, with the Hungarian asserting himself as one of the Premier League’s best fullbacks, in spite of being just 21 years old.
Coupled with news of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s new contracts, both players would be major upgrades to Slot’s squad, but presenter Keys insisted in his blog on Monday, 23 April, that he believes those deals won’t be enough to keep Liverpool atop the Premier League podium next season.
Liverpool need ‘proper’ signings alongside Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez
The former Sky Sports presenter believes Liverpool’s good form has coincided with a “poor season domestically”, whilst also explaining he believes the signings of Isak and Kerkez will not be enough to guarantee the Reds more success next year, saying: “Arne Slot has been trying to convince us because Arsenal and Villa have done so well in the CL we’ve still got a strong PL.
“No we haven’t. It’s been a poor season domestically. The two things aren’t related.
“And I’d say this to Slot – re-signing van Dijk and Salah is NOT like signing two new players.
“It’s the right thing to do, but if Liverpool are going to be competitive next season they’ll need proper new signings. Two certs are Isak and Kerkez, but that won’t be enough either.”
Arne Slot deserves more credit but overhaul of Liverpool squad is now necessary
Football Insider Verdict
It’s easy to look at this Liverpool side and believe that Slot is merely a passenger, riding on the momentum of Jurgen Klopp’s work done before the German left last summer.
Whilst the Dutchman hardly revamped the Reds’ playing squad in the transfer window, his tactical developments have allowed for his side to find a new level, despite some of the stars from the Klopp era no longer being the forces they once were.
Robertson is the obvious example, with the Scot caught out of position more often than ever before, whilst also being on course to register his first ever Premier League season without a goal or an assist.
| 2024/25 Premier League stats | Robertson |
| Appearances | 30 |
| Starts | 26 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Minutes | 2,227 |
On the opposite flank, Trent Alexander-Arnold has enjoyed several stunning spells this season, but he has often lacked consistency in his play and will be on his way to Real Madrid this summer, whilst Alisson, Joe Gomez, and Luis Diaz have spent spells out injured, or out of favour.
Keys is correct in highlighting Liverpool’s need for more reinforcements than just Isak and Kerkez. Both players will give the Reds a great chance of winning back-to-back league titles, but with plenty of gaps in the squad, the Merseyside club’s top dogs need to give Slot much more in the coming transfer window.