Arsenal are in the market for a left-back this summer, and are exploring younger options who can bring extra quality to the position.
Mikel Arteta already has several options at his disposal in Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber, with Kieran Tierney’s future also yet to be resolved.
Arteta reportedly wants a specialist left-back in the position, with most of his options more comfortable in other parts of the pitch, and Ajax’s Jorrel Hato and Fenerbahce’s Ferdi Kadioglu have been linked.
An option in the Premier League has now emerged, in Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez, but Arsenal may have to do battle with Chelsea in the transfer market again to land him.
Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez
Journalist Ben Jacobs has now told The Football Terrace that Arsenal and Chelsea both hold significant interest in Kerkez, who is highly rated at Bournemouth.
“They want a young left-back. Like Jorrel Hato, it could be a centre-back that can play left-back. Milos Kerkez is another name they’ve looked at, Arsenal and Chelsea are quite serious about him, even though Bournemouth don’t want to sell,” he stated.
Kerkez only joined Bournemouth from AZ Alkmaar last year, but the 20-year-old impressed in 33 appearances under Andoni Iraola this season, who is keen on keeping the Hungarian at the Vitality Stadium.
What would Milos Kerkez bring to Arsenal?
Although a deal appears difficult, it is easy to see why Arteta is keeping an eye on Kerkez. Despite his age, he now has a season of Premier League football under his belt, and he is rapidly developing into an excellent defender.
Kerkez is more of a natural left-back than Arsenal’s current options, but if he joins, he would not be an instant starter. However, it could be the case that he would learn the difficulties that come with Arsenal’s inverted left-back role over time, and eventually develops into the first-choice option.
Kerkez has been described as ‘one of Europe’s brightest talents’ by Bournemouth club media, and within a year, there may be more obvious calls to sign him if he continues to impress in England.