With Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg touted with a transfer away this summer season, the Dutchman has defined his stance and what it might take to remain.
Van den Berg is among the many most coveted gamers in Arne Slot‘s squad within the present switch window, with a wide range of golf equipment chasing his signature.
That golf equipment after an open admission from the Dutchman that he was trying to depart, having failed to interrupt by means of beneath earlier supervisor Jurgen Klopp.
However with a change within the dugout and, thus far this summer season, an improve in his function – leapfrogging Nat Phillips as a beginning centre-back within the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate – which will have shifted.
Talking to Sky Sports activities after the 1-0 pleasant win over Actual Betis, Van den Berg was requested about his future.
“I’m nonetheless a Liverpool participant. I take pleasure in it right here, actually,” he insisted.
“It is one of many greatest if not the largest membership on this planet so if it is right here it is my dream” ?
Sepp van den Berg is hoping he can get sport time at Liverpool this season ? pic.twitter.com/omNGnNrGeS
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 27, 2024
“It’s been a really good pre-season. After all, new coach, like new period begins, contemporary coaching, new model of play. I actually prefer it.
“For me, it’s nearly sport time and, for the time being, I’m getting it right here.
“So I’m glad for the time being, however like I mentioned, it’s nonetheless early. You by no means know what can occur, however for me a very powerful factor is taking part in.
“If I can do it right here, there’s no higher place. It’s one of many greatest, if not the largest, golf equipment on this planet, so if it’s right here, it’s my dream.
“However for me, a very powerful factor is taking part in, so I’ll see what occurs.”
Van den Berg has laid out his expectations, then, with sport time paramount, and if Slot can present that at Liverpool, he can be glad to remain.
After all, with Van Dijk, Konate, Jarell Quansah and Joe Gomez all vying for a spot within the facet too, there isn’t any assure he will likely be a starter.
However as a part of the primary group again for pre-season on the AXA Coaching Centre earlier this month – and having even met with Slot in his hometown of Zwolle beforehand – there was a possibility for the 22-year-old to impress.
“I’m a bit bit fortunate that quite a lot of gamers are nonetheless away [after] the Euros,” Van den Berg smiled.
“However for me, it’s factor. I performed 45 the primary sport [against Preston at the AXA], 60 on this one, I hope to make extra minutes even within the subsequent two video games.
“For me, it’s excellent. I can present myself in coaching, within the video games, get sport time, get rhythm, so it’s been excellent.”
He added: “At a membership like this, at this stage, it’s important to be affected person. I’ve been right here now for 5 years, time flies.
“After all, I’ve been away [on loan] quite a bit, however for me they had been excellent steps, gaining expertise.
“I’ve performed quite a lot of video games in the previous couple of years, particularly at centre-back. I got here right here very, very younger, so for me to exit a couple of instances, it was excellent.
“Now to be right here, feeling prepared, feeling good. I feel it was excellent.”