Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

We might not have a new signing as such to show off for you just yet Guy, but we have got a bit of good news for Arsenal fans coming your way...

Image source, Getty Images

Both the past and future of Liverpool's new defender Milos Kerkez have been causing quite a stir in Serbia recently. And, as with all good stories, the two are closely intertwined.

The 21-year-old plays for Hungary, but he was born in Vrbas, a town in Serbia's northern autonomous province of Vojvodina, where his football journey began.

Given that he was born in Serbia, speculation around his future – particularly rumours linking him with a move from Bournemouth to Liverpool – caught Serbian media attention for weeks, but also raised one persistent question from the past: "Why isn't Kerkez playing for Serbia?"

The simple answer is that his paternal grandmother was Hungarian - a sizeable community in Vojvodina - and, according to Kerkez, she wanted him to represent Hungary.

He did just that, turning out for Hungary at under-17 and under-21 levels, breaking into the senior side in 2022, and earning a spot in their Euro 2024 squad.

But the issue resurfaced after recent comments by his father Sebastian in a podcast, claiming that the Serbian FA "didn't seem too serious" about Milos.

The Serbian FA quickly hit back, denying the lack of interest and saying they "did everything possible" to secure Milos for Serbia.

They even went on the counter-attack.

"Sebastian Kerkez openly told me," one Serbian FA official stated, "that Milos will join Hungary only because that is the easiest way for him and his wife to get Hungarian passports."

Hungary is in the EU and Serbia isn't.

Wolves

Wolves have announced the signing of Fer Lopez from Celta Vigo in a deal worth £19m.

Lopez, who becomes Wolves' first signing of the summer, has signed a five-year contract at Molineux.

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Hold the phone! Non-Liverpool related transfer news coming your way!

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland

You would forgive Andy Robertson for recoiling at the mere mention of the name Milos Kerkez.

The 31-year-old's position as Liverpool's first-choice left-back - a post he has had a stranglehold on for the past eight seasons - could be under duress if the Anfield club get a deal for Bournemouth's Hungary international over the line.

Robertson is about to enter the final year of his Reds contract, with many suggesting Kerkez could be a long-term replacement for the two-time Premier League champion and Champions League winner.

"We're not daft, it looks as if a deal could potentially be done," Robertson told BBC Scotland earlier this month, when asked about the Kerkez rumours.

"But, until that is done, I've not even given that a second thought. I back myself. I've got confidence in my own ability and that drives me forward.

"I've had eight fantastic years at Liverpool in terms of winning trophies and being a mainstay in the team, which I'm incredibly proud of.

"I'm not getting any younger. I can't change my age, but I still believe I've got a lot to give and that's what I focus on.

"I focus on myself - you can't focus on other people or who you're competing with."

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Florian Wirtz has pictures of Bruno Cheyrou on his bedroom wall.

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Although Jurgen Klopp's 'heavy metal' style of fast-paced, high-pressing football has been adapted by Arne Slot, the fundamentals of aggressive pressing - albeit in a more structured way - and trying to win the ball high up the pitch still remain.

The 21-year-old recovered the ball 169 times last season - the fifth-most of any defender in the Premier League and more than any Liverpool defender. He also won the ball in the Cherries' attacking third 11 times - the ninth most of defenders in the division and again more than any of his potential future Reds team-mates.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, a fundamental source of creativity, has already departed Anfield, with Andy Robertson also linked with an exit. Should the deal be completed, Kerkez is seen as a long-term replacement for the left-back role the Scotland international has made his own over the last eight years.

In a Bournemouth team that eventually finished ninth, the Hungary international created 34 chances from open play - the seventh most by a defender - and registered five assists which placed him joint-fourth in that ranking.

His 142 crosses were the sixth-most - behind Robertson in fifth and Alexander-Arnold in fourth and his eight big chances created was the seventh most among defenders - a metric topped by the man now at Real Madrid.

In terms of ball progression, Kerkez passed into the final third 476 times - the tenth most times of any Premier League defender - behind the Reds' two first choice full-backs last season. No Liverpool defender completed more dribbles than his 22.

Translating such form from a side punching above their weight to a team now expected to win almost every match is never a forgone conclusion, but the statistics show Kerkez is well placed to adapt at Anfield both in terms of what Arne Slot requires from his full-backs both defensively and offensively.

Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

Liverpool have agreed a £40m deal to sign left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth.

The 21-year-old Hungary international is set to join the Premier League champions after two seasons with the Cherries.

Bournemouth have already signed Adrien Truffert from Rennes as his replacement.

Liverpool's deal for Kerkez comes with the Reds close to completing a club-record £116m move for Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.

They have also signed Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong from the German club for £29.5m.

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

Thanks Lorraine. Great stint and great research on goat prices.

Anyway, I am back now and I am back with more Liverpool news!

I assure you we are not doing this on purpose but it's absolutely relentless at the moment.

Stand by, Liverpool fans...

So far, it's been very Liverpool-heavy in terms of transfer gossip, with the most recent news being that Liverpool have reached an agreement with Bournemouth for Milos Kerkez.

However, there has also been analysis, gossip and news from other clubs. Take a look below:

• Wirtz deal in final stages of completion
• Kerkez to Liverpool done deal - Gossip
• What's the asking price for Nunez - Gossip
• Leverkusen to accelerate Quansah interest
• Arsenal among clubs monitoring Madueke - Gossip
• Chelsea consider Madueke 'our player' - Maresca
• Liverpool is interested in Guehi as Quansah replacement
• Top free agents still available

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

'Rammers' unite! Time for me to go and get fed and watered - and reach the required level of vitamin D, so I'll hand you back over to Ben Ramsdale. See you soon!

Image source, Getty Images

And here he is with another of the day's best freebies - James Milner!

Image source, Getty Images

David Ornstein of the Athletic, external and the man who never sleeps, Fabrizio Romano, external, have dropped the same transfer nugget about Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez. Liverpool have reached an agreement with Bournemouth for the 21-year-old in a deal worth about £40m.

The two say Kerkez will undergo his medical next week and join the Reds on a five-year contract until 2030.

Image source, Getty Images

Darwin Nunez arrived at Liverpool in the summer of June 2022 as the club's most expensive signing. Sadly, the dream move hasn't worked out as planned and now the 25-year-old is heading towards the Anfield exit door.

Under new manager Arne Slot last season, Nunez spent much of his time on the bench. He scored seven goals - his strike against Bournemouth and late double at Brentford highlights of the title-winning campaign - adding seven assists. In total, he's scored 40 goals in 143 appearances in all compeitions for the Reds.

Image source, Getty Images

Over at Caughtoffside,, external however, they report Napoli are proceeding with Darwin Nunez as their top target this summer and would be willing to pay 42m euros (£35.8m) for him.

However, Liverpool have set their asking fee for the Uruguayan at 50m euros (£42.7m), which is actually a reduction from £70m Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr were prepared to pay back in January - there's 'whoopsie sticker' player potential here.

Nunez is said to be keen to leave Anfield, but his preference is to join a club in Europe.

Image source, Getty Images

The curious case of Darwin Nunez. The striker's future has come under scrutiny for some time now and the Liverpool Echo , externalare reporting the club are yet to receive a bid for the Uruguay international.

Nunez has been linked with a move to Serie A champions Napoli but so far this summer, the Reds' transfer phone has not rung in regards to the 25-year-old.

Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport Journalist

Erm... I'm well aware this has been a Liverpool-heavy page today. So, feel free, if you're not a fan, to use the thumbs on this entry as sort of a rotten tomatoes post, as I'm out to move on to Darwin Nunez next.