2 weeks ago
37 Liverpool have a number of incredible young talents currently at Anfield.
The Reds can boast the likes of Harvey Elliott, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley and Stefan Bajcetic – all of whom have played plenty of football under Jurgen Klopp.
However, there is one precocious prospect who the German has hardly used, and data now shows he is actually one of the most talented youngsters in Europe’s top five leagues…
Liverpool have a top talent in Sepp van den Berg
Well, Liverpool decided to sign Sepp van den Berg from PEC Zwolle back in June 2019 in a £1.3m deal.
Unlike other prospects such as Fabio Carvalho, the Dutchman was not immediately thrown into action by Klopp, and instead ended up being shipped out to Preston, Schalke and then Mainz 05 – where he is currently on loan for the 2023/24 campaign.
In total, the Zwolle-born defender has only made two appearances under Klopp.
However – as shown by WhoScored – Van den Berg is actually the best performing central defender under the age of 23 in Europe’s top five leagues this season, with an average rating of 7.02 to his name.
The Netherlands U21 international has made 30 appearances for Mainz 05 this season, scoring two goals.
While some might now be calling on Arne Slot – the man expected to replace Klopp this summer – to give Van den Berg a chance next season, the defender may depart before that can happen.
22-year-old could leave Anfield
Mainz 05 did not publicly disclose an option to buy Van den Berg on a permanent basis once his loan expires this summer, but there was an interesting hint in the Bundesliga side’s official statement last July.
The German outfit wrote that “possibilities for longer collaboration were defined” between themselves and Liverpool last summer, suggesting that a permanent purchase option was put on the table.
However, this line is up for interpretation, as Mainz 05 added “both clubs agreed not to disclose” the finer details behind what that hint actually means.
If it is an option to buy, then we would expect Mainz 05 to trigger it, given just how well Van den Berg has performed in Germany this season.
The post Data shows Liverpool actually own one of Europe's best talents who Klopp has barely used, he could leave appeared first on TBR Football.
