Sepp van den Berg has attracted plenty of interest this summer, but Liverpool’s high asking price has deterred any serious bids. Despite being involved in pre-season, the centre-back did not feature in either of the recent friendlies at Anfield, with the club citing “load management” as the reason. Arne Slot dismissed the idea that Van den Berg’s absence was related to a potential transfer, but speculation about his future continues to swirl.
At least 11 clubs have expressed interest in signing Van den Berg, with PSV Eindhoven among the frontrunners. PSV reportedly offered £8.4 million, but Liverpool rejected the bid, valuing the 22-year-old closer to £20 million—a figure Van den Berg himself described as “majorly high.” Such a fee would break PSV’s transfer record, and according to De Telegraaf, the Dutch club has now withdrawn from the race, frustrated by Liverpool’s firm stance.
The report suggests that PSV has lost confidence in their ability to secure Van den Berg’s transfer and has decided to look elsewhere. Meanwhile, Liverpool has yet to make a final decision on the defender’s future. With several other clubs interested, including Mainz, Stuttgart, Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Wolfsburg, Liverpool is under no pressure to lower their valuation.
This situation is not unfamiliar for Liverpool, who have seen potential transfers collapse in the past due to their strict player valuations—Nat Phillips being a notable example. While the club is justified in setting a high price, even the players recognize that these figures can be a barrier to securing a move.
During Liverpool’s U.S. tour, Van den Berg acknowledged the situation, saying, “Liverpool may think it’s fair given my good season, but if they want £20-25 million, that’s a lot more. Hopefully, we can find a solution. Maybe I stay, maybe I go. My initial reaction was that it was quite high! It’s a compliment, but it also makes things difficult—£20 million is majorly high.”
With just over two weeks left in the transfer window, Liverpool still has plenty of decisions to make.
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