There were huge expectations surrounding Milos Kerkez when Liverpool completed his £40 million transfer from AFC Bournemouth on June 26, 2025. The Hungarian defender signed a five-year contract and arrived at Anfield under manager Arne Slot after establishing himself as one of the Premier League's exciting young full-backs.
However, Kerkez endured a disappointing first season at Liverpool. While his performances improved slightly towards the end of the campaign, he is still yet to justify his price tag or replicate the form that convinced Liverpool to spend £40m on him.
That could make him an intriguing FPL 2026/27 option, though. With his price now down to just £5.5m, could Kerkez be a hidden bargain?
Kerkez's FPL Price Has Fallen
Kerkez's disappointing campaign has been reflected in his FPL price for the upcoming 2026/27 season.
The Liverpool defender is priced at £5.5m, representing a £0.5m decrease from his £6.0m price in the previous campaign.
At first glance, that reduction makes sense. Kerkez managed only two goals and one assist in the Premier League last season, which is hardly the kind of attacking output FPL managers would expect from a £6m defender.
Liverpool's defensive options also create another problem. Managers need to be confident that Kerkez will consistently start before investing in him, particularly when there are several other attractive defenders available at similar prices.
Yet there is a reason to believe Kerkez could be worth gambling on.
Bournemouth Form Shows His Potential
To understand why Kerkez could become an FPL bargain, it is important to look at what he achieved before moving to Liverpool.
In his final season at Bournemouth, Kerkez scored two goals and provided five assists, giving him seven goal contributions across the campaign.
That is the version of Kerkez Liverpool fans were expecting to see.
His attacking ability was one of his biggest strengths at Bournemouth. Kerkez was capable of pushing high up the pitch, creating chances and getting involved in the final third. That makes his relatively modest output at Liverpool even more disappointing.
The key question for FPL managers is whether that Bournemouth version of Kerkez can return.
Andoni Iraola Could Be the Key
Perhaps the biggest reason to keep Kerkez on your FPL radar is Andoni Iraola.
Kerkez played some of the best football of his career under Iraola at Bournemouth, and the pair are now reunited at Liverpool. That could be extremely important for the defender.
Iraola clearly knows how to get the best out of Kerkez. He understands his strengths, his attacking instincts and the system in which he can thrive.
If anyone can help Kerkez rediscover his Bournemouth form, it could be Iraola.
And that is where the £5.5m FPL price becomes particularly interesting.
Kerkez does not necessarily need to dramatically improve his attacking numbers to become useful. If he can simply return to the player who contributed seven goals and assists in his final Bournemouth season, he could offer excellent value at £5.5m.
For an FPL defender, seven attacking contributions can be significant when combined with clean-sheet points and the possibility of bonus points.
Is Kerkez Worth the Risk?
There are obviously risks involved.
His Liverpool career has not gone according to plan so far, and there is no guarantee that a reunion with Iraola will automatically transform his performances. His starting position and Liverpool's defensive rotation also need to be monitored closely before making a decision.
However, that uncertainty is exactly why his price has fallen to £5.5m.
Kerkez is a risk worth considering at this price.
If things go wrong and he fails to rediscover his Bournemouth form, the damage is relatively recoverable. A £5.5m defender can be replaced without completely disrupting your FPL squad.
But if things go right, the upside could be massive.
A return to his Bournemouth level, where he produced seven goal contributions, could make Kerkez one of the standout value defenders of FPL 2026/27. With Iraola potentially capable of bringing his best football back, the Liverpool full-back could turn from an underwhelming signing into a major FPL bargain.
Verdict: Kerkez is a calculated gamble at £5.5m, and one that could potentially turn into a jackpot.
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