Bournemouth set to make major transfer after Milos Kerkez Liverpool development
Liverpool are one of several sides interested in Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez
Bournemouth have reportedly reached an agreement on personal terms with Rennes left-back Adrien Truffert ahead of a transfer to the Vitality Stadium – as Liverpool close in on Milos Kerkez.
The 23-year-old enjoyed a fine campaign in Ligue 1 and featured in 33 out of a possible 34 league matches as Rennes secured a 12th-place finish.
However, Foot Mercato claims the France international is close to leaving the club this summer as he has agreed personal terms with Bournemouth ahead of a move to the Premier League.
Truffert, who is the club captain, has 12 months remaining on his current contract in France, and Foot Mercato claims the two clubs are expected to reach an agreement on a deal close to £15m.
News of Bournemouth’s interest in Truffert comes on the same day that the ECHO reported Liverpool are aiming to strike a deal with the Cherries for Kerkez.
The Hungary international has attracted interest from several top sides after a breakout season in the Premier League, though the Reds are ready to ramp up their efforts to sign the £45m-rated defender.
Liverpool are keen to update their left-back options with first choice Andy Robertson now 31 and approaching the final 12 months of his contract, while Kostas Tsimikas has seen his Premier League action limited during the last two seasons.
Reds sporting director Richard Hughes, who has been leading the talks, has been a long-time advocate of Kerkez having brought him to Bournemouth from AZ Alkmaar in 2023.
Writing on Instagram last month, Kerkez admitted he doesn’t know where his future lies but thanked supporters for the two seasons he has spent on the South Coast.
“Thanks to the gaffer for trusting me to start all 38 games and special thanks to the one above for keeping me safe and healthy and of course nothing would be possible without my family,” wrote Kerkez. “I don’t know what will happen in next weeks but Cherries family thank you!”
Since the Premier League season ended, Liverpool have signed Jeremie Frimpong and are now in talks to sign his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz.
Writing on Instagram last month, Kerkez admitted he doesn’t know where his future lies but thanked supporters for the two seasons he has spent on the South Coast.
“Thanks to the gaffer for trusting me to start all 38 games and special thanks to the one above for keeping me safe and healthy and of course nothing would be possible without my family,” wrote Kerkez. “I don’t know what will happen in next weeks but Cherries family thank you!”
Since the Premier League season ended, Liverpool have signed Jeremie Frimpong and are now in talks to sign his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz.
‘There were tears, but we are looking forward to it’
World Cup qualifier: Wales v Liechtenstein
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Friday, 6 June Kick off: 19:45 BST
Coverage:Â Live on BBC One Wales, S4C, iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.
David Brooks took the plaudits when Wales players were last together in March after scoring the 96th-minute equaliser in North Macedonia which preserved Craig Bellamy’s unbeaten record as head coach.
There were more congratulations for Brooks when the Wales squad reconvened for World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium this week, but for entirely different reasons.
Brooks and wife Flora revealed on social media earlier this week that they are to become parents, with their baby due on 1 November.
For Brooks, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, the news is especially joyous given that there were questions about whether this time would ever come.
“I always wanted to start a family. My wife and I wanted kids at some point,” the 27-year-old says.
“Obviously when I was diagnosed, you have those conversations and there were never any guarantees that I would be able to have children in the future. There was a chance it wouldn’t have been possible.
“But I was really lucky that it came naturally. After my treatment things went back to normal, so of course I was really happy. There were a few tears, but we are really looking forward to it.”
Brooks was 24 when he was diagnosed with Stage Two Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2021.
There were “dark times” for the attacking midfielder but, after several months of chemotherapy, he was declared cancer free in May 2022.
He returned to first-team football with Bournemouth in March 2023 and was back in the Wales squad that summer.
Two years on, Brooks acknowledges that he is now one of Wales’ “more senior lads”.
Joe Allen’s retirement means another of the nation’s greats has gone, while captain Aaron Ramsey is again missing from this camp due to injury.
Brooks, who has 33 caps, says he relishes the responsibility that comes with being one of the more experienced players in a squad which is rebuilding having lost the likes of Allen, Chris Gunter and Gareth Bale since the 2022 World Cup.
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