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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Keifer MacDonald

Bundesliga side open talks with Liverpool over defender move

Schalke 04 are in talks with Sepp van den Berg's representatives over the possibility of arranging another loan deal for the Liverpool defender.

The 21-year-old, who made the move to Liverpool from PEC Zwolle in 2019, spent the 2022/23 season on loan at the Schalke 04 and, despite being sidelined for most of the campaign with a long-term ankle injury, impressed during his ten appearances even as he and his team-mates suffered relegation from the Bundesliga.

Earlier this week, the defender posted a heartfelt message on Instagram to thank the AufSchalke faithful for the support they showed throughout the campaign and during his injury struggles, admitting it was an "honour" to play for the German outfit. And with Schalke 04 now returning to the 2. Bundesliga just one season after they secured promotion back to Germany's top flight, Van den Berg looked set for a loan spell elsewhere as he bids to continue his development in the professional game away from Anfield.

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However, speaking to Voetbal International, Schalke 04's sporting director Andre Hechelmann has revealed the club are in discussions with the player's entourage about the possibility of bringing the versatile defender back to the North Rhine-Westphalia region for a second loan spell.

“We are talking to him and his advisor," said Hechelmann “I see the [Instagram] post more as a thank you from Sepp.”

If successful in retaining his services for the 2023/24 season, it wouldn't be the first time that Liverpool have sanctioned consecutive loan deals at the same club for Van den Berg. In July 2021, six months after joining Championship outfit Preston North End, the Reds allowed his temporary stay at Deepdale to be extended by a further 12 months until the end of the 2021/22 season.

The defender signed a new long-term contract at Anfield in August 2022.

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