Szoboszlai reacts as Kerkez sends emotional Bournemouth message after Liverpool move

Dominik Szoboszlai has reacted after Milos Kerkez penned an emotional message on social media following his recently confirmed move to Liverpool from Bournemouth.

Liverpool’s aims to win successive Premier League titles for the first time in their history has seen them spend big this summer, with Florian Wirtz recently signed from Bayer Leverkusen for a club-record transfer fee.

Former scout Mick Brown revealed to Football Insider back in March that Liverpool were prepared to meet Bournemouth’s lofty asking price for Kerkez in the summer window, with Arne Slot wanting to sign a new left-back ahead of next season.

Kerkez’s cryptic message to Cherries fans after the campaign ended sparked rumours of an imminent move to the Reds, but the Merseyside outfit clearly had bigger priorities in Wirtz before they finally swooped to sign the Hungary international last week.

Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez
Credit: Imago

Kerkez pens emotional message to Bournemouth supporters after confirmed exit

Liverpool unveiled Kerkez as a new Reds player on Thursday (26 June) with an Instagram post, saying: “We have completed the signing of Milos Kerkez from AFC Bournemouth.”

He has joined the Anfield outfit for a fee of £40million [BBC], and so Bournemouth’s summer exodus has continued with Dean Huijsen already having joined Real Madrid and Ilia Zabarnyi linked with a move to PSG.

Kerkez has now taken to Instagram himself to react to leaving the Vitality Stadium, with a post on Tuesday (1 July), saying: “I want to thank the whole (Bournemouth) family for giving me the chance to come and play in the premier league, the gaffer, everyone at coaching staff, everyone at club, you guys will always be in my heart, specially the players, made all friends for life. We fought lot of battles together and gave everything for each other, love you guys. The fans always support us and I am forever thankful for the love. See you soon,” with cherries and a red heart emoji.

His emotional Bournemouth exit message was met with reaction from new Reds teammate Szoboszlai, who liked the post, while Justin Kluivert commented a red heart emoji in response and Cherries players Marcos Senesi, Marcus Tavernier both liked the post, while Kepa, Dom Solanke and Lloyd Kelly also followed suit.

Kerkez not the last of Liverpool’s key transfer dealings this summer

Football Insider verdict

Liverpool may have won the Premier League in Slot’s maiden season in charge, but they are certainly not looking to slow down after a lethargic end to the campaign that will likely have reinforced their desire to be active in the transfer market this summer.

Wirtz is obviously set to be the most high-profile addition of their window, and now Kerkez is also through the door, but he will definitely not be the last despite the Reds’ wage bill surpassing £400million for the first time in the 2024-25 season, as revealed by Football Insider.

AppearancesGoalsAssists
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Kerkez’ 24/25 statistics

Football Insider revealed on Friday (13 June) that the Reds have been told it would take an offer of £75-80million to sign Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon this summer, while Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is a target for Slot ahead of the new season.

The fact they have been able to reach an agreement with Bournemouth for Kerkez means a high-profile exit from Anfield could be on the horizon too, with Andy Robertson believed to be on Atletico Madrid’s radar this summer.

They are clearly not short on money either, with football finance expert Dan Plumley revealing to Football Insider on 12 June that Liverpool’s revenue and recent on-field success means they can afford deals for Wirtz and other targets with relative ease in the coming months.