REDS STAY CONFIDENT OF SEALING DEAL FOR KERKEZ

LIVERPOOL remain confident of striking a deal for Milos Kerkez as talks with Bournemouth continue over the £45million-rated defender.

- By PAUL GORST

The Reds stepped up their efforts to land the Hungary left-back last week and are now in direct dialogue with the Cherries but are yet to make a formal offer, it is understood.

Bournemouth are on the east coast of the United States, on an end-of-season break, but sporting director Simon Francis remains in touch with his predecessor Richard Hughes, who has been leading talks over Kerkez with his former employers.

Hughes and Francis share a good relationship and the talks over an agreement for Kerkez are cordial as Liverpool continue to put the building blocks in place for a defence of their Premier League title next term.

The Cherries rate their left-back at £45m but Liverpool are keen to bring down the valuation for a player who joined from AZ Alkmaar for around £17m less than two years ago as a 19-year-old.

The reformed transfer window, which was largely facilitated to help teams competing in this month's Club World Cup, opened on June 1 before closing on Monday for a week.