Liverpool loanee Sepp Van den Berg admits he is ‘definitely open’ to staying at Schalke after joining on loan from the Premier League giants last summer.
After missing six months of Bundesliga action due to an ankle ligament injury, Van den Berg is certainly going a long way to making up for lost time following his return to fitness.
The Dutchman stepped off the bench with just 13 minutes remaining at home to Werder Bremen and almost immediately drew Schalke level, lashing home from the edge of the box. Thomas Reis’ side would snatch a late winner before the end too.
And, on his first start since early October, Van den Berg stood out once again during Friday’s thrilling 3-2 win at Mainz. No wonder Gerard Asamoah, Schalke’s first-team manager, is already looking into the prospect of extending Van den Berg’s stay at the Veltins Arena; his long-awaited return coinciding with successive league wins for the relegation-threatened side.
Liverpool’s Sepp Van den Berg shining at Schalke
“We know what we have in Sepp,” Asamoah tells WAZ. “And Sepp knows what he has in Schalke 04.
“Ultimately, we have to see how the situation is after the season. We all hope to stay in (the Bundesliga). Then maybe there’s a chance to persuade Sepp to stay.”
Liverpool signed 21-year-old Van den Berg from PEC Zwolle back in 2019. The Dutchman has only featured four times under Jurgen Klopp since then, shining during a spell at Preston North End before moving out to Germany.
Van den Berg, meanwhile, is not ruling out an extended stay at Schalke either. Though it remains to be seen if Liverpool would accept permanent bids or merely further loans.
“In the two games against Bremen and Mainz alone, I gained great experience,” Van den Berg explains.
“The Bundesliga is a great opportunity for me. If Schalke want to keep me, I’m definitely open to staying.”
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