Liverpool Eye Tyrick Mitchell Free Transfer as Milos Kerkez Struggles

Liverpool eye Tyrick Mitchell as Milos Kerkez struggles continue at Anfield

Liverpool are keeping tabs on Crystal Palace left-back Tyrick Mitchell ahead of a possible 2027 free transfer, according to Football Insider, as Milos Kerkez's inconsistent form pushes the club to explore alternatives. Mitchell's contract expires at the end of the season.

Target: Crystal Palace left-back Tyrick Mitchell, 27, out of contract at the end of the season.
Reported by: Football Insider.
Why: Milos Kerkez has struggled to reproduce the form that made him one of the Premier League's best marauding full-backs.
Potential cost: Free, versus a Transfermarkt valuation of around £21m.
Competition: Crystal Palace are keen to extend Mitchell's deal, but several clubs have taken note of his performances.
Timeline: Potential swoop in 2027.

Deal details

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have expressed interest in signing Mitchell in 2027. The report adds that Kerkez's struggles this season have heightened the club's interest in recruiting a new left-back. Mitchell's contract at Selhurst Park runs out at the end of the season, and while the Eagles are eager to extend it, his performances over the past few seasons have attracted attention from multiple clubs — including Liverpool, who could move for the Englishman as a cheaper alternative to Kerkez.

No fee has been agreed. The appeal for Liverpool is clear: Mitchell could arrive for free rather than commanding a sum in the region of his £21m Transfermarkt valuation. It is understood that Liverpool's interest is at the monitoring stage, and it remains to be seen whether the club will make it concrete or continue to place faith in Kerkez.

Player: Tyrick Mitchell
From: Crystal Palace
To: Liverpool (reported interest)
Fee: Free (contract expiring) — Transfermarkt valuation around £21m
Stage: Rumour — Liverpool keeping tabs

The numbers

Mitchell's form at Bournemouth in 2024/25 made his name as one of the league's most productive full-backs. He registered eight goal contributions across 38 Premier League appearances that season. Since joining Liverpool, however, his attacking output has fallen sharply to just one goal and two assists, with growing questions over his defensive displays.

8 goal contributions for Bournemouth in 38 Premier League games (2024/25).
1 goal, 2 assists for Liverpool in the same competition.
£21m — Mitchell's Transfermarkt valuation.
27 — Mitchell's age.
7.2 — Kerkez's FOTMOB rating against Bournemouth last Sunday.

Why Liverpool are looking at left-back again

Milos Kerkez arrived at Anfield with a reputation built on his Bournemouth performances, but he has not yet reproduced that level on Merseyside. His attacking output has dropped to a single goal and two assists, and defensive concerns have followed. The hope was that the arrival of former manager Andoni Iraola — who replaced Arne Slot in the dugout — would spark an upturn. Instead, Kerkez has largely struggled for most of the campaign.

Kostas Tsimikas was handed the start against Fulham last weekend but failed to make an impression and was withdrawn at half-time. Kerkez returned to the XI last Sunday in the 1-0 win over Bournemouth and impressed, earning a 7.2 FOTMOB rating. He showed outstanding tenacity against Marcus Tavernier, made nine line-breaking passes, six clearances and two recoveries, and was not dribbled past at any point. Yet his inability to string high-level displays together across a run of games is precisely why Liverpool are scanning the market.

Tyrick Mitchell fits the profile of a low-risk solution. At 27, he is experienced, homegrown and — crucially — available on a free if his Palace contract runs down. For a club already carrying uncertainty at left-back, that combination is attractive. The trade-off is that Mitchell's ceiling may be lower than Kerkez's, and signing him would effectively signal that the Kerkez project has not delivered as hoped. Palace, for their part, want to keep him, so Liverpool may need to wait until 2027 to act.

Talking points

Is one strong game against Bournemouth enough to save Kerkez's Liverpool career, or does the club need a proven alternative now rather than in 2027?
Would signing Mitchell on a free actually solve the problem, or merely paper over the cracks while Kerkez continues to develop?
Should Liverpool have kept faith with Tsimikas as a stopgap, given he was hooked at half-time against Fulham?
If Palace extend Mitchell's contract, do Liverpool lose their only realistic bargain option at left-back?

What happens next

Liverpool's immediate priority is getting Kerkez back to his Bournemouth levels, starting with the next run of Premier League fixtures. Meanwhile, the club will monitor Mitchell's contract situation at Crystal Palace, where talks over an extension are ongoing. If no new deal is signed, the 2027 free-transfer route opens — and Liverpool's interest could become concrete.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tyrick Mitchell signing for Liverpool?

Not yet. Liverpool have expressed interest in signing the Crystal Palace left-back in 2027, according to Football Insider. No fee has been agreed and the move is at the monitoring stage.

Why are Liverpool looking at a new left-back?

Milos Kerkez has struggled for consistency since joining, with his attacking output dropping to one goal and two assists. Kostas Tsimikas also failed to impress against Fulham, prompting Liverpool to explore alternatives.