Sepp Van den Berg has reiterated that he could leave Liverpool in pursuit of a first-team role elsewhere but believes he is ready for a place at the Premier League giants.
In another era, the 22-year-old Dutchman might already have quite a healthy number of senior appearances under his belt at Anfield. Sepp van den Berg, however, has had the misfortune of being a Liverpool player during the era of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, not to mention Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.
As such, the £1.7 million signing from PEC Zwolle finds himself out on loan yet again, joining Bundesliga strugglers Mainz last summer after spells at Preston North End and Schalke.
It remains to be seen if Van de Berg has a future at his parent club. The one-time Bayern Munich target certainly feels that he can ‘handle the level’. But with HITC Football understanding that Liverpool are keeping tabs on a number of centre-back targets ahead of the summer window, Van den Berg is realistic about his options.
Sepp van den Berg fighting for Liverpool future
“If I go back to Liverpool, they may want me to stay. If I notice that a lot of playing time is not available, then I may have to make the choice to leave,” Van den Berg tells Voetbal Nieuws.
“For me, it is really important that I play. In the years before, I did not have the feeling that I would be in the starting line-up next to Virgil. I don’t know yet what (my prospects) will be like next summer.
“I think I am doing well. I can handle the level at Liverpool. I can compete. But becoming a starter is, of course, still a different thing.
“Virgil and Konate are not small boys. I know it will be difficult.”
HITC have bene informed that Liverpool are keeping tabs on Matthijs de Ligt’s situation at Bayern Munich. There is also interest in a host of left-sided centre-halves, including Levi Colwill, David Hancko and Piero Hincapie.
If Van den Berg does indeed move on, he would prefer to represent a club in one of Europe’s ‘top five’ leagues. A return to the Eredivisie, even with Ajax, is not something he is considering right now.
Netherlands move ruled out
“I like abroad better. The level is higher. (That is) nothing to the detriment of the Eredivisie. PSV are doing quite well at the moment, but the basic level in Germany is higher,” Van den Berg adds.
“I prefer to play for Mainz against Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig. Even Koln is a big club with a nice stadium and lots of fans.
“Of course, clubs like Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and even AZ are nice. But abroad attracts me more.”
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