Arne Slot did not want Liverpool to sell ‘fast’ player this summer but couldn’t stop him from leaving

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Liverpool are pushing ahead with the summer transfer plans in slightly bemusing fashion.

The Reds are still yet to sign a player as the window ticks into its last week, but have nevertheless been active in the selling market.

Three players have now left Anfield permanently since the end of last season, pulling in around £60m in sales for Liverpool.

While that is good for the bank balance of the Liverpool owners, it does mean that, coupled with no incomings, the first-team squad is starting to shrink.

Throughout the summer, it has been reported that the Reds’ transfer strategy has been a combination of head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes working together. However, it seems that Slot would rather Liverpool had not made one big sale.

Arne Slot wanted Sepp van den Berg stay

There could yet be more outgoings at Liverpool. Tyler Morton is expected to go amid plenty of interest from around Europe.

Meanwhile, the situation of Joe Gomez is another that remains very much up in the air. Whether these sales will be supplemented by a signing or two is anybody’s guess.

What we know for sure is that Sepp van den Berg is no longer a Liverpool player. The centre-back joined Brentford on Thursday in a move that happened with lightning speed.

Van den Berg made no secret that he wanted to leave Liverpool earlier in the summer and it was therefore not a surprise to see him leave. The £25m fee is in fact excellent business for the Reds.

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But according to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Slot would rather have had the player over the money.

They claim that the 45-year-old ‘would have liked to keep Van den Berg’ and use him as one of Liverpool’s back-up centre-backs.

However, the 22-year-old reportedly felt that a season of being in and out of the side would negatively impact his own development.

Van den Berg is said to have made an ‘excellent impression’ on Slot during pre-season, but the head coach could not guarantee the young defender a starting spot. As a result, he pushed to leave and got his move.

Will Liverpool regret selling Sepp van den Berg?

In some ways, you have to admire the mentality of Van den Berg. Having tasted a full year of first-team football at Mainz last season, he wanted that again.

Handed the number four shirt at Brentford, he looks set to play a big part for Thomas Frank’s side this term.

Upon his signing, Frank proclaimed (via De Telegraaf) the Netherlands U21 international to be “fast, can read the game well and is comfortable on the ball in the build-up and decisive defensive actions.” That sounds like a player Liverpool could do with.

Nevertheless, there would have been plenty to say for Van den Berg easing his way into life at Liverpool under a coach who obviously rates him.

No, he would not have been first choice partner for Virgil van Dijk this season, but do well and that could have changed for future years. Nobody wants players around who don’t want to be there, but we have a feeling the regret may come from Van den Berg rather than Liverpool here.