Liverpool have reportedly learned how much it could take to sign Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.
The Hungary international is expected to leave the Vitality Stadium in the summer amid interest from a number of top clubs.
Arne Slot's side are believed to be among Kerkez's potential suitors, with the Reds keen to strengthen the left side of their defence ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Andrew Robertson is the club's current first-choice left-back, but he has seen some of his performances come under scrutiny this season.
While Liverpool can call upon Kostas Tsimikas as an alternative option to the 30-year-old, they appear to be looking to refresh the left-back position by bringing in a player like Kerkez as a long-term successor to Robertson.
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Liverpool learn Kerkez asking price
According to The Telegraph, the Premier League leaders have now discovered how much it could cost to prise Kerkez away from the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth will allegedly demand in excess of £40m to part ways with their first-choice left-back this summer.
The Cherries are in a strong position when it comes to negotiating a fee with the player under contract until the summer of 2028.
Bournemouth may hope that a potential bidding war could drive up Kerkez's asking price due to the significant interest in Kerkez's services.
Liverpool's rivals Manchester United and Spanish giants Real Madrid are also believed to be keeping tabs on the Bournemouth full-back ahead of the summer transfer window.
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Why is Kerkez's signature in demand?
The Cherries will be reluctant to lose the services of one of the regular fixtures in Andoni Iraola's squad, although they are on course to make a sizeable profit on the £15.5m deal that they struck to sign Kerkez from AZ Alkmaar in July 2023.
Kerkez has developed into one of Europe's brightest full-back prospects during his time as a Bournemouth player.
He started 22 of his 28 Premier League appearances in 2023-24, helping Bournemouth achieve a comfortable 12th-placed finish.
The Hungarian has continued to enjoy regular game time this term, starting all 27 of Bournemouth's Premier League outings, contributing to their attacking efforts with two goals and four assists.
Kerkez is playing a key role in Bournemouth's European push, with the Cherries in seventh placein the Premier League and the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
