Liverpool star admits he could follow Klopp to Anfield exit door this summer

Cameron Smith

• 19 Feb 2024 08:25 GMT
• 3 min read

Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg has admitted that he could leave the club this summer when he returns from a season-long loan spell at Bundesliga side Mainz.

The 22-year-old joined Liverpool for €1.9 million in 2019, but he has made just four senior appearances for the club and has spent the past three years out on loan.

Van den Berg has been a regular on loan at Mainz this season, making 23 appearances in all competitions, and he believes he is ready to become a key member of Liverpool’s first-team squad.

However, the Dutchman is wary of the competition for places at Anfield and has admitted that he is willing to leave the club in order to ensure he receives regular game time.

What has Sepp van den Berg said?

Speaking to Voetbal Nieuws (via Anfield Watch), Van den Berg revealed: “If I go back to Liverpool, they might want me to stay. If I see that I won't get much game time, then I might choose to leave. It's really important to me that I play.

“In previous years, I didn't feel like I would be starting next to Virgil [Van Dijk]. I don't know yet what my chances will be like next summer.

“I think I'm doing well. I can handle playing at Liverpool. I can compete. But being a starter is different. Virgil and [Ibrahima] Konate are not easy to beat. I know it will be hard.”

Van Dijk has previously hinted that he could leave Liverpool this summer following Jurgen Klopp’s departure announcement, although the Netherlands international still has 18 months left on his contract at Anfield and is currently the club’s captain.

Furthermore, Jarell Quansah appears to have leapfrogged Van den Berg in the pecking order at Liverpool. The Englishman spent last season on loan at Bristol Rovers, just like Van den Berg at Schalke, but he returned to the first-team fold ahead of the 2023-24 campaign and has been Liverpool’s back-up centre-back this year.

Following Joel Matip’s ACL injury, Quansah has been relied upon fairly heavily by Klopp and has racked up 18 appearances in all competitions so far this term.