Mainz chief Christian Heidel has publicly addressed his side’s chances of landing Sepp van den Berg this summer.
The 22-year-old Dutchman, who joined Liverpool from PEC Zwolle in 2019, has had a career marked by multiple loan stints, with notable spells at Preston North End and Schalke before heading to Mainz for the 2023/24 season.
He thrived at the Bundesliga side, ranking the 99th percentile for headers won according to FBref.com.
This is especially impressive as he is being compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues.
This means that he is being compared to the likes of Virgil van Dijk, William Saliba, Toni Rudiger or any other top defender you can think of.
van den Berg made 33 appearances in the Bundesliga last season, featuring in 93% of the available minutes as the Dutchman helped Mainz retain their Bundesliga status
The 22-year-old’s career at Liverpool has been characterized by limited first-team opportunities, making just four appearances for the club.
Despite the interest from both Mainz and PSV, Liverpool is holding out for a suitable offer, indicating they are not in a hurry to part ways with the young defender unless the terms are favorable.
The Reds have slapped a £20million valuation on the Dutchman’s head this summer, making a transfer difficult for interested club.
What did the Mainz chief say about Christian Heidel?
Mainz chief Christian Heidel has revealed that his side are interested in bringing Sepp van den Berg to the MEWA Arena on a permanent basis.
Speaking to Sky Germany via Get German Football News, Heidel said:
“We would like him to stay, and Sepp would also really like to do it. But we also respect that Liverpool have not decided about it yet.”
“We will not buy a player for over £20 million, which is what Liverpool want. Our club cannot do that.”
Van den Berg seems to want a move out of Liverpool no matter if it’s PSV or Mainz.
His career at Liverpool has been characterized by limited first-team opportunities, making just four appearances for the club.
The 22-year-old deserves the chance to become a valued player at another club, with Mainz already showing him plenty of loyalty.
Despite Arne Slot taking a liking to his compatriot and his excellent pre-season performances, it’s looking increasingly likely that van den Berg will depart Liverpool this summer.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.