Liverpool very likely to sell £20m player despite some good performances in pre-season

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool’s plans for the new season took another positive step after Thursday morning’s win over Arsenal.

The Premier League runners-up had looked like being a difficult test for the Reds, but they stood up to be counted in Philadelphia.

With more members of the senior Liverpool squad returning this week, the 2-1 victory perhaps represented a final chance for some fringe players to impress.

Most took that chance nicely, with Fabio Carvalho hopeful of more minutes after his well-taken goal and the likes of Harvey Elliott really doing well, too.

But for one player in the Liverpool starting line-up against Arsenal, it seems like it could now be the end of the road at Anfield.

Liverpool likely to sell Sepp van den Berg

Throughout pre-season, there have been lingering question marks over a couple of Liverpool players.

With Arne Slot wanting to get as good a look at as many of the squad as possible, though, no one has yet been ushered out the exit door.

Perhaps the player with the biggest axe dangling over him has been centre-back Sepp van den Berg.

Van den Berg wanted to leave Liverpool before returning this summer and although he has started each of the Reds three games, that still appears to be the case.

READ MORE: Sepp van den Berg hits back at suggestions he’s pushing to leave Liverpool

Van den Berg impressed Slot during his first days with the Reds but according to journalist David Lynch, the 22-year-old is set to go once more of the squad return back in England.

“We know Sepp van den Berg is very likely to leave because there’s not going to be enough minutes on offer for him next season even though he’s been doing a good job in pre-season,” Lynch told Born N’Red.

“I think the manager’s been really impressed by what he’s done and thinks he absolutely could be part of this first-team squad. But he is very ready to make the move now and play more regular football.

“So, I think he’s going to push for that later in the window and once Liverpool have got the squad back together the opportunity for him to go and do that when they don’t need to play friendlies will be there.”

Liverpool should keep Van den Berg

This is disappointing to hear, really. Van den Berg has done well in pre-season and with Slot on his side, would almost certainly get minutes next season.

The Dutchman would obviously not be the preferred partner for Virgil van Dijk if everyone is fit, but it would still be a good experience for him to spend a full year in the Liverpool first-team.

Unfortunately, it looks as though Van den Berg’s pre-season appearances will merely be a stay of execution for him at Anfield.

If Liverpool can get close to the reported £20m they want for Van den Berg, then perhaps it will still represent good business.

But Sepp has shown enough that he could make the Reds regret not pushing harder to keep him onboard this summer. This now feels like a matter of when, not if.