Liverpool are set to begin negotiations to sign Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, according to reports.

Respected sources have already confirmed that the Hungarian international is a top target and TBR Football claim that the Reds are now “ready to open talks”.

It is believed that Kerkez’s club value the left-back at around £50m, while the Merseysiders believe he is worth closer to £40m.

That £10m difference is unlikely to be an insurmountable gap to bridge so it does suggest that a deal can be agreed pretty quickly.

Liverpool are looking to get a transfer done before the next transfer window

With the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea having also been mentioned as suitors, it does seem like a wise strategy to get ahead of the competition by putting in a bid early.

When you also factor in that sporting director Richard Hughes knows Kerkez and his representatives well, having negotiated his move to Bournemouth during his time with the Cherries, it means that there isn’t much work to do on the player side either.

Why is Kerkez the preferred target?

It is thought that Ajax’s Jorrel Hato is the main alternative as the Reds consider potential successors for Andy Robertson.

However, in addition to being very young (he is still only a teenager), Hato is not a natural fullback, despite being deployed on the left-hand side of defence for most of this season. Many feel that the Dutchman’s future lies at centre-half.

With that being the case, it does appear as if Liverpool’s recruitment team have made the decision that Kerkez is the preferred candidate. A lot will now depend on whether they can agree a fee with Bournemouth for the defender.

Read our exclusive interview with former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy as he talks about whether the Reds should sign Kerkez.