Sepp van den Berg has hinted that he could leave Liverpool next year, with the defender only just leaving Anfield again on loan to Bundesliga side Mainz.
Speaking to Bild, the 21-year-old centre-back teased that he could depart Merseyside on a permanent basis next summer if he feels like he can’t assert himself with the seniors, with Van den Berg yet to make an impact at Liverpool.
The Dutch youngster has been out on loan twice from Liverpool and has impressed both times, though Van den Berg’s most recent spell with Schalke 04 saw the defender spend most of his time out on the treatment table.
As a result, this latest loan spell with Mainz could be make-or-break for Van den Berg’s Liverpool career, with the German side having the option to sign the defender for good at the end of the season.
Indeed, Van den Berg impressed in his limited time with Schalke last campaign, and a full year with Mainz injury-free could result in a full-time exit from Liverpool, despite the defender’s obvious talents.
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Yet a permanent exit is likely, with Van den Berg saying: “Of course I can imagine staying in Mainz for more than one season. Liverpool are a big club, maybe the biggest in the world, but it’s very difficult to assert yourself there.”
Van den Berg has to impress Liverpool officials this season
It feels like an eternity ago when Van den Berg was dubbed as one of Europe’s biggest talents, with the Reds the lucky side to land the-then PEC Zwolle wonderkid. Yet like many things in football, things just haven’t worked out.
Injuries have plagued Van den Berg’s career since moving to Merseyside. And this latest loan move to Germany could be the last role of the dice for the centre-back’s future with Liverpool.
There’s still a chance that Van den Berg can break into Jurgen Klopp’s plans for next season, yet the defender can only do that by proving his worth at Mainz this campaign.