A promising young defender with a promising future at Zwolle, Sepp van den Berg joined Liverpool in the summer of 2019. However, he struggled with life in England and living on his own, and failed to impress in the first team, spending most of the season on loan.
After showing his ability in the Bundesliga, starting with Preston North End and then Schalke and Mainz, it looked as if he would establish himself in the first team with the appointment of another Dutchman, Arne Slot, but he was unable to break down a strong centre-back line-up and, seeking regular treatment again, the player moved to Brentford.
Along with a total transfer fee of £25 million, he earned a place in the starting line-up and has made 12 appearances so far. He played 90 minutes against strong clubs such as Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Despite a disappointing black star, he has proved that he can also play in the Premier League.
According to Football Transfers, Josep Guardiola, who played against him in the fourth round of the Premier League, spoke highly of the player and, along with Dutch defender Jeremy Frimpong, asked the club to sign him.
The club also reportedly showed interest in him in the recent transfer window and explored the possibility of acquiring him, but due to their rivalry in the domestic league, they never made a move for him.
He can play as a right-back or left-back. He is not a speedy player, but his clever style of play allows him to contain opposition attacks with the right positioning. He also has the technique required of a modern centre-back, so it is no surprise that the Spanish boss likes him.
When he moved to Brentford, it is believed that a sell-on clause was attached to his next move to be paid. If he moves to Manchester City, Liverpool would be entitled to 17.5% of the transfer fee, which could be a lot of money depending on the amount.
So does the former Liverpool Dutch defender have a future in joining a team that has a rivalry with his old club…?