Liverpool are looking to finalise a deal for Milos Kerkez, with Bournemouth seeking £45million for the left back.

Further talks have been taking place between Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, and the club he left 12 months ago to move to Anfield.

Kerkez, the 21-year-old Hungary international, has been Liverpool’s first choice to bolster their options at left back, with Andrew Robertson now 31 and entering the final year of his contract.

Robertson, the Scotland international and two-times Premier League winner, enjoyed a strong second half of the season as he battled with Kostas Tsimikas for a starting role, but there remains a need for a succession plan.

Bournemouth are adamant they will not negotiate on anything below £45million for Kerkez, leaving Hughes holding more discussions with his counterpart and former Bournemouth team-mate Simon Francis in the hope of reaching a compromise.

Hughes was responsible for bringing Kerkez to Bournemouth, negotiating a £15million deal with the Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2023. There remains a strong belief at Liverpool that Kerkez will join his international team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai on Merseyside, with his pace and drive being the sort of qualities that the head coach Arne Slot is looking to add to his squad. Liverpool have already signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen for £29.5million and are looking to finalise a deal for his team-mate Florian Wirtz.A club-record bid of £109million was tabled last week for the 22-year-old attacker and subsequently rejected by Leverkusen, who have been holding out for closer to £126million.Hughes will be hoping to chip away at the top line figures of both Bournemouth — who have been linked with the Rennes left back Adrien Truffert — and Leverkusen, but Liverpool’s pursuit of two players who had been wanted by Manchester City reflects how attractive the club has become after their Premier League triumph.Meanwhile, Liverpool have received no expressions of interest in Luis Díaz and are not actively looking to sell the Colombia forward.For the second successive summer, the future of Díaz, 28, has been the subject of fierce speculation, with the Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr — who were purported to be ready to pay up to €85million (£71.53million) for Díaz — and Barcelona linked with moves for him. A year ago, City were also credited with having a strong interest in the player.Díaz scored 17 goals in 50 appearances for Liverpool this seasonANDREW POWELL/LIVERPOOL FC VIA GETTY IMAGESLiverpool are understood to be perplexed by the noise once again surrounding Díaz, who became a valuable player for Slot with his ability to play through the middle and on the left flank, resulting in 17 goals in 50 appearances.That versatility and good form fuelled reports that Díaz, who joined Liverpool from Porto in January 2022, was set for a new contract. However, Liverpool have no plans to open talks with Díaz, who has two years left on his existing deal and will turn 29 midway through next season. Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has long admired Díaz and wants to add depth to their squad. They have Lamine Yamal and Raphinha as first choices on the flanks and have also considered Marcus Rashford, who is back at Manchester United after a loan spell at Aston Villa and would almost certainly come cheaper than Díaz.