Milos Kerkez has no airs or pretences. The 21-year-old Bournemouth left-back, who has taken the Premier League by storm, is as fierce off the pitch as he is on it. Sitting inside the Vitality Stadium, he talks with the same intensity that he displays every matchday.

"No two faces," he says firmly. "How I am on the pitch is how I am outside of it. Everywhere I am the same. I am not pretending to be something. You always remember where you’ve been, where you are now, and you don’t change. You just go with it and stay humble. That is what my dad says."

After arriving from AZ Alkmaar in the summer of 2023 for £15.5 million, Kerkez has blossomed into one of Europe’s most sought-after young defenders. With interest from clubs like Liverpool, his future is a hot topic ahead of the summer transfer window.

Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth have gone from strength to strength. Last season saw them achieve their highest-ever Premier League points tally (48), and they are on track to surpass that in the current campaign. With just nine league games to go, they sit tantalisingly close to European qualification, just three points behind fifth-placed Manchester City.

For Kerkez, this season has been about stepping up. In 32 appearances, he has scored twice and assisted five times, proving himself as an all-action left-back. He has played every one of Bournemouth’s 29 league games, showcasing his stamina and consistency.

"Last season helped me to experience the league and how it is, the speed and physicality of it," he reflects. "The manager has trust in you and gives you time to adapt because he knows you have the quality. He knows it is just a matter of time until you pop out and start to do your stuff more."

The results are there for all to see. In November, he set up both goals in Bournemouth’s stunning 2-1 win over Manchester City. Now, with an FA Cup semi-final spot at Wembley on the line, Kerkez would have relished the chance to face City again in the quarter-finals. Unfortunately, a yellow card against Wolves in the previous round means he will be watching from the stands.

A modern full-back needs to balance defensive solidity with attacking dynamism, and Kerkez has embraced that challenge.

"I like to be aggressive but in a sporting way — in a football way, I like to compete a lot," he explains. "As a full-back, you have to do both (defend and attack), but first of all is your defensive game. If you’re not a good defender, you’re not going to play or compete for trophies."

His relentless energy was on full display against Tottenham Hotspur in March, when he sprinted 43.6 metres in a counter-attack to set up Marcus Tavernier’s opener. That same game also saw him make a perfectly timed slide tackle on Brennan Johnson, showcasing his ability to nullify fast wingers.

"That is what wingers struggle with. I don’t leave them space to control the ball outside of me. I stay close to them and at the same time, I can follow their run. If they want to run in front of me, they can, because I know I have the speed."

Much of Kerkez’s development has come under Iraola, who has instilled a clear philosophy into Bournemouth.

"If you want to be a full-back with Andoni Iraola, you have to be like this," he says. "He is helping everyone to improve as a player and as a person. I’m really thankful he has trusted me."

After setting up Tavernier against Tottenham, he ran straight to his manager instead of celebrating with his teammates. The reason? Iraola had meticulously analysed Spurs’ high defensive line and instructed Kerkez on how to expl

With Liverpool fans flooding his social media with messages urging him to join the club, speculation is rife. However, Kerkez remains focused on the present.

"It’s not like I don’t see it (the comments)," he admits. "When people say they don’t see stuff, I think it’s a lie. It’s only if it hits you or not. If someone says something bad, I do my job, and if someone says something good, I just do my job. That’s it."

His journey has already seen him move from Serbia to Austria, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and now England. A crucial turning point came in 2021 when Paolo Maldini, the legendary left-back and then AC Milan’s technical director, personally convinced him to join the Italian giants.

Though he never made a senior appearance for Milan, his time there shaped him. Now, with clubs circling, his next step could take him back to one of Europe’s elite.

"Yeah, as a kid, you dream to play at the highest level, win the trophies, be on the best teams," he admits. "These are the things that my agent is on. My dad is on. The season is still going, so there’s no point talking about anything now. There are games left, the FA Cup is important for us. In the summer, we will see what happens."

Despite his rapid rise, Kerkez remains deeply connected to his roots. His family, including parents Sebastijan and Tiijana, live with him in Poole, while his brother Marko plays for Aris Thessaloniki.

"I play for them. I just want to have made them proud. All the other noise is not important for me, if it’s good or bad. My family is why I’m here today and why I continue to grow."

He credits his mother’s cooking for keeping him in peak condition. "My mum cooks the best food for me. She makes all sorts of juices, I have a lot of them in the fridge, and I don’t even know what they are," he laughs.

A simple life away from the spotlight suits him just fine. "I would rather go home for my vacation and be with family or friends in my hometown than travel to Ibiza," he says. "I built my home there. I can do everything in Serbia, I don’t need to go anywhere else."

For now, his loyalty remains with Bournemouth, but that will surely be tested this summer.