Liverpool is closing in on a deal to sign Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez after securing deals for Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz.

Kerkez has been earmarked as the ideal long-term successor to Andy Robertson, who could leave the club this summer amid interest from Diego Simeone's Atletic Madrid.

Bournemouth is preparing for life after Kerkez, and on Monday the South Coast club announced the signing of Rennes' left-back Adrien Truffert.

Truffert is the second left-back that Bournemouth has signed this year following the arrival Julio Soler from Lanus in January.

Meanwhile, Wirtz is set to undergo his Liverpool medical this week, while Darwin Nunez is the subject of interest from Serie A outfit Napoli.

Keep up to date with all the latest news across our Liverpool transfer blog.

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Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has claimed it’s a “real shame” to see Florian Wirtz join Liverpool.

The Reds have agreed an initial deal of £100 million ($136M) to sign Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, with a further £16M ($22M) in potential add-ons. A medical is reportedly scheduled for later this week, after which the 22-year-old will officially be confirmed as a Liverpool player.

Richard Hughes and Arne Slot convinced Wirtz to sign despite interest from Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. The German international was sold on the club’s long-term vision, with Liverpool deciding to pay a club-record fee for a player who has been described as a “once-in-a-century talent”.

That explains the disappointment in Germany, that the league’s star name - who was voted player of the season in each of the last two years - is set to depart.

Dortmund chief Watzke also serves as the DFL (German Football League) chairman of the supervisory board and feels the Bundesliga will suffer from Wirtz’s exit.

“It’s a real shame, especially for the DFL, that a player like Florian Wirtz is leaving the Bundesliga. I wouldn’t have had a problem at all if he had gone to Bayern,” Watzke told Kicker.

DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 25: CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke of Borussia Dortmund during the Borussia Dortmund Annual General Meeting Of Shareholders on November 25, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images)

“That would have been better for the Bundesliga. It doesn’t really matter for the national team. He’ll play at the highest level in Liverpool, too.

“He could have worked better with [Jamal] Musiala in Munich, but two such good footballers can find each other anyway.”

The frustration from Germany may stem from a belief that, excluding Bayern, no Bundesliga club can compete with the finances of sides from the Premier League.

“I am sure that we will have a competitive team - and that we will also have the finances under control,” Max Eberl, Bayern’s sporting director, told Sky Germany last week.

Germany's start name is set to leave the Bundesliga. (Image: Getty Images)

“If I'm honest, I don't know if we could have paid what Liverpool are apparently paying now. Florian Wirtz is an outstanding player. We could have imagined signing him. But when a door closes, another opens.”

After Wirtz’s deal is announced, the club’s new signing will enjoy a few weeks off before meeting up with the squad when it returns to pre-season on July 7.

The German could play his first match six days later when Liverpool faces Preston North End in its opening friendly of the summer.

Wirtz may go on to become the Premier League’s record signing should all of the $22M worth of add-ons be met, while he becomes just the fifth £100M+ signing in the division’s history.

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The Premier League is set to announce the official fixture list for the 2025/26 season on Wednesday. Despite the 2024/25 season feeling like it just concluded, all 20 teams will soon discover their opponents and match dates, with Liverpool recently confirming its pre-season plans.

Liverpool reigned supreme in the Premier League, as Arne Slot's men finished a solid 10 points ahead of Arsenal who came second. The relegation battle wasn't much of a contest either, with Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City being demoted to the Championship.

Sunderland, Burnley and Leeds United are the new entrants, hoping to put up a sterner challenge than those they're replacing. Their fixture schedule will be revealed on Wednesday/.

Upon the release of the fixture list, supporters often express frustration over what they perceive as an unfair start or end to the season. However, creating the fixture list isn't a simple task.

Premier League officials state that compiling the fixture list takes up to six months. The task is undertaken by French IT firm Atos, located just outside Paris.

Numerous factors must be considered before the fixture list can be finalised. A wealth of information influencing the sequence of matches is fed into their system, which then generates the match list.

For instance, it must factor in dates of international matches as well as those of Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League clashes. It also has to take into account the scheduling of matches in the lower leagues.

In addition, policing capacity and geographical proximity of teams are also taken into consideration to ensure public safety resources are not stretched too thin. For instance, Liverpool and Everton are not permitted to play at home on the same weekend, due to the significant strain it would place on police resources.

Leeds has been promoted to the Premier League (Image: Getty Images)

The same rule would also apply to Manchester United and Manchester City, but the rules are more relaxed when it comes to London teams, given the large number of clubs in the capital.

Individual teams are also allowed to make special fixture requests when there is a potential stadium clash. For instance, on October 11, Old Trafford will be hosting the Super League Grand Final, so United will likely have requested to play away that weekend.

Moreover, along with considering all of the above, there are also three strict rules for fixture scheduling. Firstly, over a span of five matches, a team must play two matches at home and three away or vice versa.

The Premier League fixture list will be released at 9am on Wednesday, June 18 (Image: Getty Images)

Secondly, a club is not permitted to start or finish the season with two home or two away matches. In the 2023/24 season, Luton Town had to kick off their campaign with two consecutive away matches as Kenilworth Road was still under refurbishments to meet Premier League standards.

Thirdly, during the Boxing Day and New Year's Day fixtures, a team is not allowed to play at home or away twice. Once all of the background information has been entered, clubs are placed into a pairing grid, defining when they will be playing at home or away.

The system then randomly generates sets of fixtures. These are then manually checked by staff at Atos, as well as officials at the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL).

If a problem arises, the process is repeated, thus generating a new set of fixtures. This will be done over and over until one fixture list is deemed to meet all requirements and rules.

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Atletico Madrid has already identified a potential alternative to Andy Robertson should a move for the Liverpool defender not materialize.

Robertson is being linked with a transfer away from Anfield as his place in Arne Slot’s side looks set to come under threat. Milos Kerkez is being strongly linked with a move to Merseyside, with the Hungarian tipped to join the Reds after Florian Wirtz’s signing is confirmed, and with Bournemouth having secured his replacement, that move could happen sooner rather than later.

That leaves Robertson facing up to the prospect of losing his spot as Liverpool’s first-choice left-back, with the position having emerged as a priority following a disappointing season by the Scotland international’s usual standards.

The 31-year-old may have another option available, with Atletico eyeing him for a surprise move this summer.

Diego Simeone’s side is on the lookout for a new left-back, with Robertson and AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez having been linked, although it’s the former that has been most strongly linked in recent days.

Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Liverpool star would be keen on a move to Spain, although it would appear Atletico is taking no chances and has identified another Premier League player as a potential backup option.

Atletico Madrid has identified Lucas Digne as an alternative to Andy Robertson (Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

According to The Times, the La Liga club has placed Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne on a list of alternatives should a move for Robertson not come through.

It’s suggested that Atletico is looking to pay as little as $5.8M for the Scot, a deal that might not appeal to Liverpool given Robertson could still play a significant number of games next season.

Digne could therefore come into the picture, with the French international in a similar position to Robertson with just a year left on his contract at Villa Park. Simeone is said to like his ability to attack and defend, a key trait of Robertson’s time at Liverpool.

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Despite the speculation surrounding a move for a left-back this summer, Simeone played down his side’s need to strengthen the position after their 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup.

Asked post-match whether the left flank was an issue, the Atletico manager replied: “No, we are doing very well.”

Liverpool.com says: The ideal situation for Liverpool is that Robertson stays on to support Kerkez next season, with his experience invaluable as the Reds battle it out on four fronts again.

But you couldn’t really blame Robertson if he doesn’t want to play second fiddle after being the clear first-choice for so long. Given he has just a year left on his contract, if he wants to leave, it might be in Liverpool’s best interest to try and strike a deal with Atletico.

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Boston Red Sox supporters have speculated that the decision to trade Rafael Devers was influenced by Liverpool's chase for German midfielder Florian Wirtz, given both clubs are under the ownership of Fenway Sports Group (FSG).

Liverpool has already had a busy offseason, with Trent Alexander-Arnold opting to depart the club as a free agent and sign with Real Madrid. Jeremie Frimpong has already been brought in as a defensive replacement and Milos Kerkez is set to join Liverpool from fellow Premier League side Bournemouth for a reported $52 million.

The blockbuster deal this summer involves a record-breaking fee for Wirtz, with Liverpool set to pay $139.5 million in guaranteed fees, plus an additional $21.75 million in potential add-ons. The announcement of the proposed Wirtz deal and the Devers trade has seen some Red Sox fans voicing their discontent with FSG, particularly towards principal owner John W. Henry.

On Sunday, the Red Sox confirmed the major trade, dispatching Devers to the San Francisco Giants in return for right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, outfield prospect James Tibbs and pitching prospect Jose Bello. The Giants will also take on his 10-year, $313.5 million extension that kicked off in 2024, with $250 million still due.

Devers declined to switch his position following several significant injuries to teammates, and Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow sidestepped questions about the incident earlier this month. Devers has since left the organization, sparking outrage among fans, some of whom accuse FSG of prioritizing Liverpool over the Red Sox.

"Fans weren't lying when they said all John Henry cares about is Liverpool," a fan commented on social media. "Oh my god, how could John Henry care about the thing that makes him more money, is more successful in their sport and is a brand known in every single country," another fan added with evident sarcasm.

Rafael Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, ending his stint with the Boston Red Sox (Image: 2025 Getty Images)

"John Henry sell the team," demanded one disgruntled supporter. "God, if I was a fan of a team and it was being short-changed because of f------ soccer, I'd lose my mind," said a neutral sports enthusiast.

"Obviously, I don't know if there is any connection here, but Devers being traded with $250M left on his contract and news of the Penguins potentially being back up for sale have both occurred in the same week that Liverpool signed a player," speculated another fan.

Regardless of speculation, there's no direct linkage, as FSG's ownership of multiple professional sports teams doesn't imply shared finances—each team's accounts are independent. Moreover, Liverpool boasted an impressive prize money haul from last season, thanks to their Premier League victory and strong Champions League group stage performance.

Liverpool is set to sign Florian Wirtz for an initial $139.5 million (Image: 2025 Getty Images)

By the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Liverpool generated an estimated $885 million, whereas the Red Sox's revenue for the 2024 MLB season was a reported $574 million. It's also worth noting in the world of football, transfer fees tend to be paid in instalments, allowing clubs to allocate financial responsibilities over time and evade hefty fines associated with overspending in a three-year period.

Devers might have been seen as a key player for the Red Sox, but his strained ties with the team were also a pivotal factor in his move. The discord had been simmering since the offseason, and the Giants were in dire need of someone of Devers' calibre.

"Yeah, it was a lot, and it was late. But you know what? This is something we really needed," expressed Giants manager Bob Melvin regarding the acquisition of Devers.

"To get a guy like Devers ... there's a lot you have to give up for him, but this fits us perfectly. It's a power left-handed bat, a guy that can go the other way and hit for power in our ballpark. I mean, it's tailor-made for us, so kudos to the front office to swing this."

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Ibrahima Konate’s future is a big concern for Liverpool, with the defender’s contract expiring in just 12 months’ time, and still no sign that a renewal could be on the way.

It’s a big summer for the Reds, with Arne Slot and Richard Hughes planning for a Premier League title defense next season, and they’re not wasting any time in the transfer market. Jeremie Frimpong is already on board, Florian Wirtz is on the way, and Milos Kerkez could follow soon after.

More signings could be made, while there will almost certainly be some players making way. Supporters will be hoping Konate isn’t among those.

Football Insider though claims the Frenchman could leave Anfield “in the coming weeks”. It’s suggested that, with contract talks at risk of collapsing, Liverpool has set Konate a deadline to make a decision by the end of the summer transfer window.

Such a big claim should be taken with a healthy dose of salt. Konate is a hugely important player for Liverpool. The club has already made efforts to tie him down to a new deal, and if Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s sagas taught us anything, it’s that these matters are never resolved quickly.

There is no doubt though that Konate’s future is a concern for Liverpool, especially with reports suggesting that Real Madrid is waiting ominously in the background again.

What’s more, Konate hasn’t quite filled supporters with hope whenever he’s addressed his contract situation.

The 26-year-old confirmed back in January that he had been offered a new deal by Liverpool, although when he was then asked if he was close to signing it, he responded: “That’s another conversation!”

Liverpool has been in talks over a new contract for Ibrahima Konate (Image: Getty Images)

That came after reports earlier in the season that Konate was close to signing a new deal with the Reds — a claim that has proven to be wide of the mark.

“Who talked about that a few months ago?” Konate said. “The club didn’t say anything, I didn’t say anything. It’s one person that said that.

“I didn’t know, after I spoke with the club but I think I am really focused on what happens now. We will see what will happen.”

What did happen was more talks between Liverpool and Konate’s representatives. However, as of last month, the defender was still denying that he was any closer to a new contract at Anfield.

"You know, I just want to say one thing: everything you saw on social media is completely fake," Konate said, responding to more speculation over his future. "I didn't even ask for something from the club. They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it.

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"The rest (speculation) that I want to wait until the end... I want this, all of it is completely fake. And even the big journalists said in November I am very close to signing the deal. I was like: 'Ah, they have more information than me!?'

"It was not true at that moment and that is why I was a little bit mad because it was not true at this moment. I knew at one moment people would think I didn't want to sign the contract but I was never close to signing it. We will see what will happen."

Konate would go on to add: "Progressing? Not really but my agent met the club last week but I don't know what will happen. I cannot say what my agent said to me but yeah, we will see what will happen."

All of which doesn’t paint the most encouraging of pictures for Liverpool fans who, while clearly enjoying the strides the club is making in the transfer window, will not want to see another top player leaving for nothing in a year’s time.

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