Liverpool boss Arne Slot will be weighing up his squad this summer and will need to make a decision on one loanee returning to Anfield.
The Reds had to find a replacement for Jurgen Klopp as the German announced his intention to leave the club in January.
The season ended with Klopp saying an emotional goodbye but also chanting the name of Arne Slot – even before he was officially appointed as Liverpool boss.
Back when Klopp announced his plans to leave, fans immediately started dreaming of an incredible Anfield return to Xabi Alonso.
The Spaniard was breaking record with Bayer Leverkusen but decided to stay in Germany – and Liverpool decided to go for Feyenoord boss Slot.
Slot wasn’t really mentioned after Klopp’s initial announcement but has now been charged with the task of building Klopp’s outstanding work.
Sepp van den Berg praised in Germany
It’s important to remember that Slot isn’t a nobody; he is just as revered in Rotterdam as Klopp was at Anfield.
Slot worked wonders with Feyenoord and is now looking to bring that same success to Liverpool – even with some pundits doubting him a little.
The Dutchman must weigh up his squad and that includes defender Sepp van den Berg.
Van den Berg just enjoyed a strong season out on loan at Mainz having previously excelled at Preston North End and suffered an injury-hit campaign at Schalke.
After helping Mainz achieve Bundesliga safety, 22-year-old Van den Berg is now back at Liverpool once again.
German outlet Kicker have now ranked the Bundesliga centre backs from the past season with nobody considered to be world class.
In the ‘international class’ category, Kicker go with Bayer Leverkusen duo Edmond Tapsoba and Jonathan Tah, Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck and his outgoing defensive partner Mats Hummels as well as Waldemar Anton and Hiroki Ito.
The latter two have both left Stuttgart this summer, joining Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively.
In the ‘national class’ category, we find the name of Van den Berg after his impressive campaign with Mainz.
“In Mainz’s strong second half of the season, Van den Berg developed into the defensive leader in the centre of the three-man chain,” they wrote.
That ranking puts Van den Berg in the same category as defenders such as Eric Dier and Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich, as well as William Pacho of Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie.
Van den Berg being in that kind of company speaks volumes of just how much he impressed with Mainz.
Van den Berg future unclear
Slot will surely be aware of his fellow Dutchman and this pre-season gives him a chance to study Van den Berg closely.
Van den Berg may yet fancy leaving Liverpool though, especially if he is going to be down the pecking order at Anfield.
The centre back has already admitted that he wants to play regularly and Liverpool commanding a hefty price tag could halt his development.
“(Liverpool) didn’t radiate confidence in me all this time, but you want to hinder my future,” Van den Berg told De Telegraaf. “I want to keep playing weekly and develop myself further.”
“In Germany, I enjoy Dortmund with 70,000 fans. Bayern Munich against Harry Kane. Stuttgart, Leipzig, Leverkusen… Against those kinds of clubs I am challenged every week,” he added.
Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel believes that Van den Berg wants to rejoin the club this summer but whether they can cough up the cash remains to be seen.
“The only one who has made a decision is Sepp,” said Heidel. “He definitely wants to stay in Mainz,” he added.
Van den Berg will be looking to shine in pre-season but will also want some clarity over his future in fairly quick fashion.
Formerly of PEC Zwolle – a club close to Slot’s heart from his playing carer and early coaching days – Van den Berg is developing nicely, but it’s unclear just where he will be playing next season.
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