Liverpool have placed a £20million ($25.5m) valuation on Sepp van den Berg — but no decision on the defender’s future will be made until he’s been assessed by new head coach Arne Slot during pre-season.
The Dutch centre-back is attracting interest from clubs across Europe after enjoying an impressive season on loan at Bundesliga outfit Mainz.
Reports in Germany suggested that Mainz have an option to buy the 22-year-old for as little as £4.3m, but Liverpool are adamant that’s not the case.
Mainz are desperate to retain his services but the player’s rise over the course of this season means he’s likely to be out of their reach financially. Van den Berg played a pivotal role in helping them retain their top-flight status as they finished 13th in the table. He clocked up 33 appearances in the Bundesliga.
Brentford and newly promoted Southampton are among his Premier League suitors, while Wolfsburg are viewed as serious contenders in the Bundesliga and Ajax retain a long-standing interest.
Liverpool insist their £20m valuation reflects the current market trends around defenders of his age and profile, as well as the fact that he was one of the best performing centre-backs in Germany across a number of key data metrics in 2023-24.
Slot is fully aware of Van den Berg’s ability and incoming assistant Sipke Hulshoff knows him from the Netherlands national team set-up. Pre-season will provide an opportunity for the defender to shine before a decision is made over whether to sanction a sale.
There is a vacancy that needs to be filled in Liverpool’s centre-back department this summer, with Joel Matip leaving as a free agent.
Academy graduate Jarell Quansah enjoyed a breakthrough campaign as he established himself as captain Virgil van Dijk’s first choice partner — his progress rewarded with a call-up to England’s provisional squad for the European Championship. Slot is fully committed to continuing Liverpool’s policy of promoting and developing young players.
Van den Berg joined Liverpool in a £4.4m move from Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle in 2019. He made four senior appearances for them under Jurgen Klopp’s reign as he spent time away on loan at Preston North End, Schalke and Mainz.
(Marius Becker/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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