Liverpool star Sepp van den Berg could stay put at Anfield after impressing Arne Slot in training
Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg has improved leaps and bounds in the last couple of years and his sensational campaign with FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga in 2023/24 could prove to be a pivotal moment in his career.
The Dutchman was signed in the summer of 2019 from PEC Zwolle and has since made just four appearances for the Reds. He has largely spent time out on loan and those experiences have contributed massively to his development. Just 22, Sepp has the world at his feet and is ready to take the next step in his development.
The departure of Joel Matip has opened up a spot on the Liverpool centre-back roster, one that the Dutchman can fill. Given the rise of Jarell Quansah last season, the Reds are not averse to handing young talents the opportunity should they prove themselves. Sepp has certainly shown that he has the potential and could now be set for an Anfield resurgence.
The youngster was heavily linked with a summer exit, with quotes even suggesting that he wants out. But according to James Pearce via The Athletic, that could all change given the impression he made on Arne Slot in training.
The new Liverpool head coach is impressed by what he has seen of Sepp in training. The 22-year-old showcased his fitness levels by registering the highest average speed during the running tests over the weekend. This augurs well for the high-energy brand of football that Slot likes to deploy.
The Dutch tactician and his side also believe that the player’s tactical ability has levelled up thanks to the regular playing time he received in the Bundesliga. This should hold him in good stead if he is to play a role in the Liverpool squad.
A clear indication that Sepp is likely to stay put at Anfield comes from the fact that the Reds have already rejected offers for him from VfL Wolfsburg and Mainz. At just 22, the youngster’s career is still in its infancy and it makes little sense for us to potentially lose out on a colossus of a player without him even being afforded a chance.
Playing in a poor Mainz side, Sepp stood out as a reliable present at the back, aiding them in their eventually successful quest to ward off relegation from the Bundesliga. He also established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the air and won the most aerial duels (171) out of defenders in Europe’s top five leagues last season.
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Good in the air and solid with the ball at his feet, Van den Berg is evolving into a reliable top-flight player who will only get stronger in time. He has all the traits of a modern-day centre-back and it is imperative that the Reds retain his services. Virgil van Dijk is not getting any younger and if all works out well, the Reds will not have to look far for a long-term replacement for the skipper.
