{"id":161318,"date":"2025-06-05T22:11:25","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T22:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/161318\/"},"modified":"2025-06-05T22:11:25","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T22:11:25","slug":"kerkez-absent-from-hungary-squad-as-liverpool-transfer-nears-final-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/161318\/","title":{"rendered":"Kerkez Absent from Hungary Squad as Liverpool Transfer Nears Final Stage &#8211;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/anfieldindex.com\/join\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Zero-Ads-Go-Pro-Thin.png\" alt=\"Join AI Pro\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"82\" data-end=\"535\">As Hungary prepare to host Sweden in a friendly at the Pusk\u00e1s Arena, the spotlight has shifted from the pitch to the absence of two key figures. As reported by Hungarian outlet <a href=\"https:\/\/m4sport.hu\/magyar-foci\/cikk\/2025\/06\/05\/kerkez-milos-es-varga-barnabas-sem-jatszik-svedorszag-ellen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">M4 Sport,<\/a> head coach Marco Rossi confirmed on Thursday that Milos Kerkez and Barnab\u00e1s Varga will miss the fixture, though no specific reasons were given. Rossi added only that he \u201ccould not count on the two players due to various problems.\u201d For Liverpool supporters, the timing of this news adds intrigue, and perhaps some mild concern, as the club edges closer to sealing a deal for the exciting left-back.<\/p>\n<p>Kerkez Transfer Nearing Completion<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"838\" data-end=\"1163\">Kerkez\u2019s absence comes just as his long-speculated move to Liverpool nears the final stage. Fabrizio Romano, a trusted source in the transfer market, has reported that \u201cone more round of talks\u201d is needed to finalise the agreement, with both Liverpool and current club Bournemouth optimistic about reaching a swift resolution.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-81310\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/imago1061015430-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\"  \/>Photo IMAGO<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1165\" data-end=\"1577\">The 21-year-old has made no secret of his preference. Despite reported interest from Manchester City, Kerkez is understood to be prioritising a move to Anfield, a stance that will endear him to Liverpool fans even before he pulls on the red shirt. That decision to rebuff the Premier League champions in favour of joining Arne Slot\u2019s squad speaks volumes about the project unfolding under the Dutchman\u2019s guidance.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"0\" width=\"0\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0.bmp\" style=\"display:block;width:0;height:0;\"\/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1579\" data-end=\"1831\">Kerkez\u2019s enthusiasm has reportedly been \u201ca driving force\u201d in the negotiations. His rapid development and attacking dynamism have marked him as a modern full-back in the mould of Andy Robertson, whose long-term successor the Hungarian could very well be.<\/p>\n<p>Injury Concern or Transfer Protocol?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1875\" data-end=\"2281\">The vague explanation of \u201cvarious problems\u201d offered by Rossi opens the door to speculation. Is Kerkez sidelined by a minor knock, or is this simply a precautionary step to avoid injury while contract talks continue? With transfer negotiations reaching a sensitive point, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising if all parties preferred caution over risk, especially given Liverpool\u2019s eagerness to avoid any complications.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2283\" data-end=\"2648\">Still, for Liverpool, any delay, even short term, can raise questions. The club has endured difficult experiences in the past with medical setbacks complicating deals. Fans will be hoping that this absence is administrative rather than medical, and that Kerkez arrives on Merseyside fully fit and ready to integrate into a squad chasing silverware on multiple fronts.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-64030\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/imago1040040937h-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\"  \/>Photo: IMAGO<br \/>\nOur View \u2013 Anfield Index Analysis<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"3478\" data-end=\"3891\">For Liverpool supporters, the news of Milos Kerkez missing Hungary\u2019s friendly will naturally prompt a degree of anxiety. The fear, of course, is that an injury could derail a move that has generated significant excitement among the fanbase. However, given the phrasing, \u201cvarious problems\u201d, and the timing of negotiations, it\u2019s more plausible that this is a carefully managed absence rather than a cause for concern.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"3893\" data-end=\"4176\">Kerkez\u2019s preference for Liverpool over Manchester City speaks volumes. It\u2019s a bold decision, and one that will resonate with fans who value loyalty, ambition, and character. The 21-year-old seems not only ready to embrace the challenge of Anfield but also to contribute immediately.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"4178\" data-end=\"4573\">His potential signing also reflects well on the club\u2019s recruitment under Arne Slot. In Kerkez, Liverpool would be adding not just a backup to Robertson, but a player who can push him, potentially succeed him, and help evolve the team\u2019s shape from the left flank. His style suits Liverpool\u2019s pressing game, and with European football returning to Anfield, depth in key positions will be critical.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"4575\" data-end=\"4853\">Ultimately, unless new information emerges confirming an injury, fans should take comfort in the fact that this may simply be part of a broader plan to ensure the deal is closed without unnecessary risk. Milos Kerkez appears destined for Anfield, and Liverpool are better for it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/anfieldindex.com\/join\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Join AI Pro\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1749020479_288_Zero-Ads-Go-Pro-Large.png\" alt=\"Join AI Pro\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As Hungary prepare to host Sweden in a friendly at the Pusk\u00e1s Arena, the spotlight has shifted from&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":46473,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[1648,63568,1121,67928,180,748,67929,393,1123,4884,67930,64845,67931,67932,67933,179,9147,1127,67934,67935,16123,9431,67936,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-161318","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-anfield-index","9":"tag-anfield-signings","10":"tag-arne-slot","11":"tag-barnabas-varga","12":"tag-bournemouth","13":"tag-britain","14":"tag-contract-talks","15":"tag-england","16":"tag-featured","17":"tag-great-britain","18":"tag-hungarian-football","19":"tag-hungary-football","20":"tag-international-duty","21":"tag-kerkez-injury-update","22":"tag-kerkez-liverpool-deal","23":"tag-liverpool","24":"tag-liverpool-manager","25":"tag-liverpool-transfer-news","26":"tag-manchester-city-target","27":"tag-marco-rossi","28":"tag-milos-kerkez","29":"tag-premier-league-transfers","30":"tag-retained-list","31":"tag-uk","32":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=161318"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161318\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=161318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=161318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=161318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}