Liverpool's Sepp van den Berg is on the verge of leaving Anfield, with Xabi Alonso reportedly making a personal effort to secure his transfer to Bayer Leverkusen.
According to recent reports, former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso has directly contacted Van den Berg to persuade him to join Bayer Leverkusen rather than moving to another Premier League club.
The 22-year-old Dutch defender, who spent last season on loan at Mainz, is set to complete a permanent move away from Liverpool this summer.
Alonso's intervention comes as Brentford and Leverkusen lead the race for Van den Berg’s signature. Despite Brentford’s willingness to meet Liverpool’s asking price of around £20 million ($26.2m), Van den Berg has been encouraged by Alonso to consider the Bundesliga champions.
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Sky Sports Germany has reported that personal terms should not pose a problem if Van den Berg decides to move to Leverkusen after recent discussions with Liverpool.
Van den Berg has been a target for several clubs, including newly-promoted Southampton and Wolfsburg, alongside Leverkusen and Brentford. Liverpool had excluded him from their squad for the opening match of the season, highlighting the uncertainty around his future.
The young defender joined Liverpool from PEC Zwolle in 2019 for £1.3 million ($1.7m) plus add-ons. Despite making a promising start, including a notable debut against MK Dons, he has found opportunities limited in recent seasons.
Earlier this summer, Van den Berg reflected on his future, stating: “For the price they want for me, hmmm…Liverpool may think it is right as I had a good season. £20-£25 million is a lot more. Hopefully, we can find a way. Maybe I stay, maybe I go.” He added that his priority is regular playing time, whether at Liverpool or elsewhere.
As the transfer window nears its close, Van den Berg's decision could be crucial for both his career and Liverpool’s plans.
