Since joining Liverpool, 22-year-old Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg has spent most of his time at another club. After loan spells at Preston North End and Schalke, he put in some of the best performances in the Bundesliga last season with Mainz.
His great performances last season made him a popular brand name, attracting interest from several German clubs as well as the Netherlands and England. The initial asking price of £20 million seemed to be a stalemate, with Mainz and PSV Eindhoven showing reluctance.
According to De Telegraaf, Bayer Leverkusen and Brentford have reached an inter-club agreement with Liverpool for a £25 million offer, and it is now up to the player himself to decide whether he will move to either club.
The young centre-back was expected to get his chance at Liverpool with the appointment of manager Arne Slot, who is also from the Netherlands, but he is fourth or lower in the pecking order in a well-stocked centre-back corps. The player, seeking regular treatment, has requested a move.
Will the Dutch defender, who is expected to receive a significant salary increase at either Leverkusen or Brentford, be able to break out of his loan spell and be seen playing for a new club…?