Report: ‘Excellent’ Liverpool player now expected to leave Anfield before Thursday’s deadline day

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Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg will not be a Reds player by the time the transfer window closes on Thursday.

That’s according to the Lancashire Telegraph, who claim that the 20-year-old is ‘expected’ to leave Liverpool and join Blackburn Rovers.

The deal will reportedly be a season-long loan for van den Berg, who has been involved with the first-team so far this season.

The news comes after Rovers secured the signing of Coventry City centre-back Dominic Hyam. This could’ve been seen as bad news for van den Berg’s prospects, but it reportedly won’t alter Blackburn’s plans for him.

Sepp looks to continue his development at Blackburn

All things considered, a loan move is probably the best thing for van den Berg right now.

With a couple of injuries in the Liverpool back-line, it looked like he might finally get his shot in the starting XI. But Jurgen Klopp obviously still prefers the experience of Nat Phillips.

There’s no need for The Reds to keep both players. Both Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate should both return soon. That will negate the need for further centre-backs around the squad.

Of course there can always be further injuries. But in that event it looks as though Phillips will be retained just in case.

For van den Berg, it’s important that he continues on from his excellent spell at Preston North End. A move to Blackburn should hopefully see him play regular football at a level that he’s already proven himself at.

That can give him the chance to keep up the momentum of his development. The 20-year-old was described as being ‘excellent’ by then Preston manager Alex Neil via Lancs Live during his time in the Championship.

From the little evidence we saw in pre-season, Sepp looks to have come on leaps and bounds.

Another year in the second division would look like the right move at this moment. It’s understandable that Liverpool have kept him around for the opening weeks of the season, but he should be given the chance for first-team football.

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