Kostas Tsimikas responds to Liverpool left-back rival Milos Kerkez’s message
Milos Kerkez and Kostas Tsimikas are rivals for Liverpool’s starting left-back spot and the latter has now responded to a message from the former.
The Reds signed Kerkez from Bournemouth this summer as part of a summer spending spree, with Arne Slot looking to consolidate his Premier League title win from last season.
Kerkez joins what is now a congested left-back group at Anfield alongside veteran Andy Robertson and Tsimikas.
Tsimikas is now effectively Slot’s third-choice option and, as such, has been linked with a summer transfer.
Tsimikas reacts to Kerkez message
Kerkez and Tsimikas are both part of the Liverpool squad currently on a pre-season tour of Asia, preparing to take on Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos following a 4-2 defeat to AC Milan in Hong Kong.
The Hungary international posted a selection of images of himself training ahead of Wednesday’s match, with waving hand and Japanese flag emojis as the caption.
A host of Kerkez’s new teammates liked the post, including Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo — as well as Tsimikas, showing there’s no bad blood between the two, despite their positional rivalry.
Former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke also liked the post, with his Tottenham side in Asia as well, ahead of fixtures against Arsenal and Newcastle United.
What next for Kostas Tsimikas?
Tsimikas still has two years left to run on his Liverpool contract, but at 29 years old, the defender will be eager to find a new home where he can establish himself as a regular starter.
The 41-time Greece international brings plenty of experience to the table and, as recently as June, former Premier League scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Nottingham Forest — backed by Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis — were considering a summer bid.
| Liverpool stats | Kostas Tsimikas |
| Appearances | 115 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 18 |
| Trophies | 5 |
“They don’t want to have three left-backs on the books with Kerkez coming in,” said Brown (17 June).
“Tsimikas has done well when he’s come into the Liverpool side and he’s got a few suitors.
“Nottingham Forest have done their due diligence on him and now they have to decide whether he’s the one they want to take a chance on.
“They’ve looked into his character and his ability to see if he would fit in.
“Nuno wants to bring in a natural left-back and of course, he fits that bill.
“He’s not the only one they’ve been looking at, though, so we’ll see.“
Forest currently have Omar Richards as their only natural senior left-back, so they may yet make a swoop for Tsimikas before the end of the window.