Report shares Liverpool's plan for Sepp van den Berg with Preston loan ending soon
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Liverpool are reportedly planning to send defender Sepp van den Berg out on loan again next season as his Preston spell comes to an end.
They always say not to fall in love with loan players and North End fans have gone head over heels for three of them.
Goalkeeper Daniel Iversen and striker Cameron Archer have excelled since joining on loan from Leicester City and Aston Villa.
Van den Berg is the third, and much like Iversen,
he has now been on loan at Preston since January 2021.
Seeing the progress of Van den Berg has been astonishing. When he first arrived as part of the deal that saw Ben Davies move to Anfield, the Dutchman could barely take a throw-in from an unfamiliar right wing back role.
Van den Berg grew into a very good right wing back before switching to right-sided centre back under Ryan Lowe.
The 20-year-old has been outstanding; his pace on the cover excellent and his bond with the fans seemingly unbreakable.
With the end of the season in sight though, Van den Berg’s time at Preston is coming towards its close.
Lowe is hoping to keep Van den Berg for another year, but the defender himself has admitted that he is expecting to be playing elsewhere.
Some have wondered whether Van den Berg would be featuring in the Liverpool first-team setup next season.
Neco Williams’ future is up in the air and Van den Berg could feasibly offer cover behind Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back.
However,
Goal’s Liverpool correspondent Neil Jones reports that Liverpool are planning to send Van den Berg out on loan once again.
That may give Preston hope of a loan deal, but we have to be realistic here.
We would imagine that Van den Berg will be sent to a top-flight Dutch or German club to further his development, or even a Premier League club.
It would be great to see Van den Berg in a Preston shirt again next season, but we just can’t see it happening with Liverpool likely to want something new for their young defender.
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Sepp Loving Regular Game Time
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Having featured in all but one league game so far this campaign, Sepp van den Berg feels he’s enjoyed a “successful season” which he is hoping will end strongly.
After spending the second half of the campaign at Deepdale in 2020/21, the Liverpool defender returned on a season-long loan last June and has since been a key figure in the PNE side.
Sepp has
only missed one game in the Championship – the visit to Blackburn Rovers in December – and he’s learned a lot in the meantime.
“I think playing wise, it’s been a very successful season,” Sepp said to iFollow PNE.
“Minutes wise it’s been excellent. I’m still feeling well and I still want to play six more 90 minutes so let’s see if I can do that.”
The Dutch defender and his teammates head into the weekend’s fixture against Queens Park Rangers no doubt full of confidence after their victory over Blackpool midweek.
After a day off on Wednesday following the game, Sepp admitted that Euxton is a happy place to be right now.
Sepp added: “Of course when you walk in everybody is still happy about Tuesday. It was an important game for us playing at home against Blackpool, everyone is still buzzing about the win, so all happy here.
“Last year I was here as well, but they were not in the Championship. Of course we lost unfortunately at their place earlier in the season, so winning this one was very important.
“It’s definitely one of the highlights of the season.”
QPR come to PR1 this weekend looking to get back on track in their search for a Play-Off place after a difficult run of results.
Mark Warburton’s side came out on top in the reverse fixture between the two earlier in the season in a tight contest at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
Sepp said: “I know we lost 3-2 but I think we should have won, so it’s a nice game for us to get revenge on them and hopefully get the win.
“I think we have a very good record at home anyway, so winning this one [we are now] trying to get a few games winning on the bounce.
Away from PNE, the 20-year-old has recently been away with Netherlands U21s, starting both games against Bulgaria and Switzerland.
Victory against the latter – group leaders at the time – has now put them in a great position to qualify for next summer’s European Championship.
“I played both games so that was very nice,” he added. “We’re top of the group now and I think in June we have three more games so if we win all those we’re top of the group and quality for the Euros next summer.
“There’s a lot to play for in the summer break but it was a very good trip, I enjoyed it so I’m looking forward to June.”[/article]