Liverpool have Manchester United to thank as door opens for key £40m transfer

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Liverpool, it appears, are trailing one of their most hated Premier League rivals in pursuit of an attacker in serious demand.

According to reports, Manchester United are leading Liverpool in the race to sign Antoine Semenyo for a fee potentially in the region of £70 million.

Fast, strong, extremely versatile and a fearsome striker off the ball off both feet, Semenyo certainly feels like a readymade successor for the likes of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota at a club who excel in plucking good players from other Premier League clubs and turning them into truly great ones in Liverpool red.

Bournemouth have more of those good, potentially great players than most.

Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez both fall into that category.

Manchester United exit the race for Liverpool target Milos Kerkez

Liverpool opened talks to sign Huijsen this month. Swashbuckling left-back Kerkez is a prime candidate to replace Andy Robertson, meanwhile.

But while Arne Slot faces a fierce battle with North West neighbours Manchester United for Semenyo’s sought-after signature, the ever-reliable Fabrizio Romano cannot envisage the two old rivals also going head to head in the battle to lure Kerkez away from the Vitality Stadium.

Man United have been linked with Hungary speedster Kerkez themselves.

But, after the Red Devils completed a £25 million deal for former Lecce flyer Patrick Dorgu, Romano claims that there is one horse less as English football’s stallions prepare to explode out of the blocks and charge towards Bournemouth.

“For Milos Kerkez, there’s no release clause, but there’s strong interest, again from Liverpool,” Romano tells Caught Offside.

“Kerkez is on the list, for sure, at Liverpool. And there’s also interest from more clubs, so the Hungary international is a player who is expected to be an interesting case to follow in the summer transfer window.

“We’ll see what happens later in the window, but also Bournemouth want to try to keep some of their important players so it’s not going to be an easy negotiation for both Kerkez and Semenyo.

“With Kerkez, Liverpool already months ago showed an interest. Man United were also keen but then they invested in Patrick Dorgu so they are no longer looking for a player in that position.”

Jamie Carragher wants Richard Hughes to raid Bournemouth

Formerly of AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, Kerkez has an impressive six assists from left-back this term.

His remarkable delivery to set up Marcus Tavernier’s finish in the recent 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur – swept beautifully into the midfielder’s path from 63 yards away – was an assist straight out of the ‘prime-Robbo’ playbook.

Alongside Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez is a player Jamie Carragher wants at Liverpool this summer. RTK understands that a deal could be approached in the region of £40 million.

“We’ve got to remember [Liverpool director] Richard Hughes came from Bournemouth,” Carragher points out. “He brought Kerkez to the club, the left-back who has been fantastic.

“He obviously likes him. He must have a relationship with the player and the agent. So that one, I look at that and I think it probably makes sense.”