Jürgen Klopp won’t be the lone departure from Liverpool at the season’s end, as a Reds player has hinted at a possible exit.
While last summer saw significant player departures, including the likes of Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, Naby Keïta, Roberto Firmino, and James Milner, the upcoming transfer window may not witness such extensive changes. Nonetheless, Sepp van den Berg has already suggested that his prospects for regular first-team action appear dim.
Signed from Dutch side PEC Zwolle in 2019, the towering 6ft 4 center-back joined Liverpool amidst competition from Bayern Munich and Ajax. Van den Berg made four cup appearances in his debut season, notably featuring in a thrilling 5-5 draw against Arsenal.
However, since then, his opportunities have been limited, with loan spells becoming his primary avenue for playing time.
Following stints at Preston in the Championship and Schalke last season, Van den Berg has spent this term with Klopp’s former club, Mainz, featuring prominently with 24 appearances across all competitions. Despite his commendable performances, the 22-year-old remains cognizant of the need for regular football.
Van den Berg acknowledged the possibility of returning to Liverpool, where the club might opt to retain him. However, he expressed a willingness to seek opportunities elsewhere if he perceives limited chances for game time.
The defender emphasized the importance of playing regularly, stating, “If I see that I won’t get much game time, then I might choose to leave. It’s really important to me that I play.”
Reflecting on his prospects at Liverpool, Van den Berg acknowledged the formidable competition for places, particularly with players like Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in the mix.
While he feels capable of competing at Liverpool, he recognizes the challenge of breaking into the starting lineup, noting, “I can handle playing at Liverpool. I can compete. But being a starter is different. Virgil and Konate are not easy to beat. I know it will be hard.”
