22 May 2024 20:45:02
Hi Eds - speaking of release clauses, etc, there's now a rumor that Mainz have an option to make Sepp van der Berg's loan permanent for €5m. Is there any truth to that? It seems very, very low, and I've been really hoping that Slot would be given a chance to have a look at him. Thanks!
{Ed002's Note - Sepp van den Berg (CB) He likely won't get a chance as a starter at Liverpool and will probably be sold in the summer to raise funds - could be a mistake by the club. There is no release clause for Mainz but they will have a a first pick option if he were to be sold - and they have made their interest known and will look for an option to buy the player who has had a great season. Will need to speak to the club and see what other options he has.}
22 May 2024 21:56:35
First option. so they'd have to match another teams offer?
23 May 2024 06:46:18
Agree with Ed that it could be a mistake. We’ll sell him for peanuts and end up paying £60m for someone of equal or lesser ability. He’s been one of the best CB’s in Germany, he’s had experience in the rough and tumble of the Championship back when he was a teenager, he has friends in our squad already, he came through the academy at PEC Zwolle whilst Slot was there, he already speaks fluent English and is acclimatised to the North West. Giving Sepp a chance makes so much more sense because he’ll hit the ground running and he’s been every bit as good as guys were being linked with like Tapsoba, Yoro, Silva, Hincapie, Inacio and Pacho.
23 May 2024 01:47:34
I appreciate the response Ed002!
23 May 2024 07:32:48
@MK, why do you think that Slot doesn’t know about SvdB? If he came through the PEC Zwolle academy system when Slot was there then Slot should know him. He is known at Liverpool and I’m sure they’ll have a reasonable idea about his performance, stats and capabilities. I’d say Liverpool and Slot will have a fair bit more information on, and idea about, the likelihood of the lad being someone who could do a job in the first team squad.
It could be he gets promoted into the first team squad, it could be that after assessing him the club chose a different option.
I read on social media that he is one of the best young defenders in Europe - quite a claim based primarily on 60 games for Preston and 30 for Mainz but if the club think so then I can’t see any reason why he won’t be here next season and if we do sell, given he is apparently better than Inacio etc, we should be asking for 60 - 70 million. It’s a win, win really.
23 May 2024 07:37:18
From what I’ve seen of VDB it makes absolute sense for us to have a look at him properly over the summer. Perfect Matip replacement. Someone needs to work on getting Konate properly fit though.
23 May 2024 07:43:39
Im with you MK. Slot is the ideal manager for SVDB, since his remit is to develop youth and what's already there.
FSG have never spent big two off seasons running, and Sepp has proven he has the minerals.
23 May 2024 09:13:03
@Jihnny, the club have had the opportunity to look at him for the last three pre-seasons.
23 May 2024 10:28:03
My worry WDW3 is whether Slot will have a say. Nobody really knows how the new set up will work. Slot might have very little input on who stays or who goes.
I’d like to think he’ll still get final say as he has to work with these players ultimately. As long as we take a look at Sepp in pre-season I’m happy. If Slot deems him not part of his plans I can live with that but if he’s sold before he even gets a sniff that would just be silly in my opinion.
23 May 2024 11:46:24
Should definitely be given an equal chance in pre season, then its upto him to perform.
23 May 2024 12:03:31
Fair comment @MK - hopefully Slot is part of the decision making .