Everton refused to pay £1.8m for Norway starlet Berge in January – now Liverpool may be willing to pay ten times as much.
With Liverpool and Everton gearing up for the latest instalment of the Merseyside derby on Sunday, this may not be the only battle that takes place either side of Stanley Park in the next few weeks.
Because it seems as if Liverpool are really stepping up their interest in a sparkling young talent who has been heavily linked to their blue-clad neighbours over the last couple of months.
The Mirror reported in June that Norwegian playmaker Sander Berge was a target for Everton despite his price-tag swelling to £18 million. The Toffees are understood to have watched the 19-year-old Genk star since as far back as January.
But now Merseyside rivals Liverpool have been alerted to Berge’s precocious talents. Because Estadio Deportivo claim that the teenager, who is also admired by La Liga giants Sevilla, has been watched frequently by Liverpool’s scouts this season on the demand of manager Jurgen Klopp.
Berge, a seven time Norwegian international who moved to Genk from homeland club Valerenga almost a year ago, should not be short of options in the January transfer window then.
And even though Genk will demand a huge fee for their prized asset, Everton and Liverpool should have no trouble meeting their demands.
But, in another intriguing subplot, Berge’s former manager at Valerenga, Kjetil Rekdal, told AftenPosten in October that Everton missed the chance to bring the rising star to Goodison Park 11 months ago because they were unwilling to match Genk’s £1.8 million bid.
If that looks a costly decision now, just imagine the frustration if Berge arrives on the red half of the city in early 2018.
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