Sepp van den Berg says that he’s targeting a place in Liverpool’s first-team from next season.
The young Reds defender has spent the last 18 months on loan with Championship outfit Preston North End. Despite being primarily a centre-back, Van de Berg has often been utilised in the wing-back role.
Liverpool signed Van den Berg from Dutch club PEC Zwolle in the summer of 2019 for a fee worth £1.3million. A host of other clubs including Bayern Munich, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven were also interested, but the Reds got a deal to sign the young defender.
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Since signing for Liverpool as a 16-year-old, he has been limited to just four senior appearances since his move so far. That led to a loan switch to Preston, where he has impressed and found a home in English football.
Over the course of his loan stint, Van den Berg made 66 appearances and scored two goals. He will return to Anfield for pre-season in the summer.
Despite it being likely that he will be low in the centre-back pecking order at Liverpool, Van den Berg insists that he is focusing on breaking into the senior set-up at Anfield. The defender also says that he aims to be the centre-back partner for fellow Dutchman Virgil van Dijk in the near future.
“The intention is that I participate in pre-season and then earn my place in the dressing room,” Van den Berg told Voetbal International.
“At the same time, I know that the competition is fierce. This summer I will fight for a starting place. That’s what I hope, that’s what I dream of [playing with Van Dijk]. That is my goal for next season.
“The World Cup can help me with that. It will be a long and tough season, a lot of guys will leave or be gone temporarily. Then you might get the chance to play a little earlier. I have to do that.”
