Liverpool defender lashes out at Reds with furious transfer request

Sepp van den Berg has admitted his desire to leave Liverpool this summer in a furious attack on the club's treatment of him.

The 22-year-old joined to much fanfare in the summer of 2019 and has just completed his third loan away from Anfield, impressing in the Bundesliga during his 12 months with Mainz.

Van den Berg was seen by many as a long-term heir to Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool and the younger Dutchman admits he initially felt that confidence, before a series of broken promises left him looking for the exit door.

"In all honesty, I was no longer looked after," Van den Berg told De Telegraaf.

"I knew for sure that I couldn't get into Liverpool's first team from PEC Zwolle [in 2019]. I could have spent another year or two at Liverpool, but I really wanted to play. I demanded to be loaned out. Every time, because I felt I was getting better and better. I also made great strides physically.

"I also felt 'ready'. I had a good conversation with the manager. He said he had received good reports. I certainly understood that I was not going to eliminate Van Dijk, [Joel] Matip or [Ibrahima] Konate, but I thought I could get behind them straight away. When I didn't get a chance again, I said, 'Figure it out, I want to leave again'."

Recent reports suggest Liverpool value Van den Berg, who is approaching the final two years of his contract, at £20m - a figure which angered the Dutch defender.

"You have not radiated confidence in me all this time, but you do want to hinder my future," he said of his price tag. "I want to continue playing every week and further develop myself."

The Athletic state that Van den Berg is wanted back with Mainz, while Premier League sides Brentford and Southampton are keen to keep the 22-year-old in England.

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