Liverpool defender admits he could leave club in summer transfer window

Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg has admitted that he could leave the club permanently this summer in search of regular gametime.

The Dutch centre-back was signed by Liverpool back in 2019 for a reported £1.3m fee and arrived at Anfield with an enormous reputation, but he has managed a grand total of four appearances for the Reds since then - the last of which came four years ago.

Van den Berg has spent the large bulk of his Liverpool career on loan at a variety of clubs, and currently finds himself at Mainz 05 having previously turned out for Preston North End and Schalke 04 in the last few seasons.

Speaking to Voetbal Nieuws about his plans once his current loan to Mainz ends, the defender admitted that is considering seeking a permanent move away from Liverpool due to the stiff competition for minutes he'd face at Anfield.

"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," admitted Van den Berg.

“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."

Liverpool's centre-back partnership of Van Dijk and Konate have thoroughly impressed thus far this season, contributing to the Reds having the second best defence in the Premier League thanks to conceding just 24 goals.

Along with Van Dijk and Konate, Jarell Quansah has also impressed when called upon to deputise for either starting centre-back, particularly in the Europa League where the youngster has been a regular.

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