Earlier this week, Danny Murphy could not help but wonder if Liverpool might still make a move for one of the finest defensive prospects in the game before the window closes.
Marc Guehi, the former Anfield stalwart feels, would be a ‘terrific signing’ for Arne Slot’s team.
A young, quick, athletic, and supremely-technical centre-half who should thrive in a possession-based, high-line system.
But with Crystal Palace demanding £65 million – HITC understands that Newcastle United have made three bids without any coming close to reaching that magic number – the chances are that Guehi will end the window still wearing red and blue.
Either way, Murphy’s comments about bringing a new centre-half to Anfield, per talkSPORT, does raise an interesting question about the strength of Liverpool’s backline.
Virgil van Dijk is still a monstrous presence but he turned 33 in July. Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate have found consistency hard to come by in both fitness and form.
Jarrell Quansah is a huge talent but, still, it may be a risk relying so heavily on a youngster with only 13 Premier League starts under his belt.
One wonders, then, if letting Sepp van den Berg go may be something of a mistake.
Liverpool could still sell Sepp van den Berg
The Dutchman appeared determined to leave at the start of the year.
His stance is unlikely to have changed having been left out of those Anfield friendlies against Sevilla and Las Palmas recently.
Van den Berg was excellent on loan at Mainz last term, a ‘machine’-like presence at the heart of a team who pulled off their very own ‘Great Escape’ act from the Bundesliga relegation zone.
Mainz have made no secret of their desire to keep him. Christian Heidel, sporting director, believes that Van den Berg would be up for a permanent move to the MEWA Arena too.
But that will only be possible if Liverpool reduce an asking price which currently stands at ‘over £20 million’.
Heidel, while pre-announcing Brajan Gruda’s £25 million switch to Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday, spoke out about Van den Berg again.
And while Mainz are in the process of lining up alternatives, the former Schalke chief is not yet ready to remove their hat from the ring.
Mainz still hope to secure Dutchman’s Bundesliga return
“We are a bit dependent on Liverpool,” Heidel tells Sky Germany while indicating that Van den Berg may have to take matters into his own hands.
“I know that he would very much like to return to Mainz. Perhaps the player’s voice will play a role in Liverpool’s decision.
“Of course, it is Liverpool’s legitimate right to put a price tag on the player. But then there has to be a club willing to pay that price, and the player has to want to go there. As of today, that’s not the case, which is why we still have a chance.
“If Liverpool loans him out for another year, then we are the perfect club. Sepp would confirm that as well.
“We are waiting a bit longer and preparing ourselves in case it doesn’t work out.”
Van den Berg joined Liverpool from PEC Zwolle back in 2019. He is yet to play even a single Premier League minute for the Merseyside giants, however, despite enjoying fine loan spells at Preston North End and Schalke before heading to Mainz.
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