Liverpool defender Sepp Van den Berg insists that his focus is on playing in the Premier League or the Bundesliga for the time being when quizzed about a potential return to the Eredivisie.
Four years after joining forces with Jurgen Klopp, Sepp Van den Berg is still awaiting his Premier League debut in Liverpool’s iconic red shirt.
Time will tell if it ever arrives.
At least, having joined Mainz on another short-term loan deal over the summer, regular first-team football in the Bundesliga is a nice consolation prize; Van den Berg telling Voetbal Primeur that, if he is not going to be given an opportunity in the Premier League, Germany’s top-flight was always his preferred alternative.
Sepp Van den Berg leaves Liverpool for Bundesliga loan
The former PEC Zwolle defender is also distancing himself from a potential return to Dutch football, insisting that his focus is on making a name for himself either in England or the Bundesliga.
“The Eredivisie is a wonderful competition,” the 21-year-old explains. “But, as I said earlier, I want to play in England or Germany.
“It would be wonderful to play in the Netherlands again, or perhaps return to PEC Zwolle at the end of my career. But I am not working on that at the moment (even though) I do follow the Dutch clubs, especially when they play in Europe.”
Van den Berg spent time at Preston North End and Schalke before joining Mainz in July. The Netherlands U21 international has featured in all of Mainz’s three Bundesliga games so far this term, starting the last two.
He remains under contract at Liverpool, meanwhile, until the summer of 2026.
“I am very curious how our Van den Berg performs,” veteran Dutch coach Huub Stevens said of the youngster during his time at Schalke.
“Van den Berg is certainly a player who could also be interesting for the Dutch national team. But before that, he has to grow. He is a player who I have been watching for some time.
“He is an interesting player.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
