Manchester City interested in Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City are interested in a summer transfer for Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, according to reports.

The left-back position at the Etihad Stadium has been problematic for Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff for several seasons, despite the immense success seen by the club and strong performances put in by those in the role.

A host of names have operated regularly for City in the position despite not being natural left-backs, with the likes of Fabian Delph and Oleksandr Zinchenko transitioning from midfield as left-footers, and Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake moving across from central defence.

Manager Pep Guardiola was recently asked whether the club would regard signing a new left-back a priority for the upcoming summer transfer window, to which the Manchester City coach responded, “Obviously.

“Nico (O’Reilly) is helping, but he’s not a left-back. That’s true,” he continued. “I played with Alex Zinchenko, Fabian Delph at left-back.

“We found solutions many, many years, with other qualities they help. Alex and Fabian for example, or sometimes Rico [Lewis], they help us massively.”

And now, the latest line of reporting would appear to indicate that Manchester City have identified a new name to be explored through a potential transfer during the upcoming summer window.

That is according to the information of Sky Sports News’ Lyall Thomas and Mark McAdam, who report that Manchester City are now interested in a summer deal for Bournemouth and Hungary international left-back, Milos Kerkez.

Etihad Stadium officials will unsurprisingly not be alone in their interest however, with the report pointing out similar stances being held by Premier League champions-elect Liverpool and Real Madrid.

It is explained that while the 21-year-old is expected to make a decision on his future at the end of the ongoing season, he also wants to remain an important first-team player should he move on to a bigger club.

Liverpool are said have been keen on the defender for some time, while Anfield sporting director Richard Hughes is pointed out as being the figure who first signed the player for Bournemouth from AZ Alkmaar back in 2023.

The ongoing season has seen the emergence of Nico O’Reilly as Manchester City’s latest solution to Guardiola’s left-back issues, largely due to injury and fitness problems elsewhere in defence.

The England youth international – who was trialled as a defensive midfielder earlier in the season – is an attacking midfielder by trade but has performed excellently in the defensive role, providing goals and assists in big moments for the club in the second-half of the season.

O’Reilly’s rise at left-back has also enabled Josko Gvardiol to be played consistently in the left-sided centre-back role for the first time since his arrival from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023, and the Croatian has largely not put a single foot wrong alongside Ruben Dias.