'All this time': Sepp van den Berg accuses Liverpool of ‘hindering’ his future

Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg has hit out at the club after they set an asking price this summer. The Dutchman wants out.

Sepp van den Berg has talked to De Telegraaf this week and he's plainly not happy with his situation at Liverpool. The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Mainz, having been at Preston North End the season before that.

Importantly, though, Van den Berg excelled in the Bundesliga this season. He established himself as one of the most exciting young defenders in German football - and it appears he'd like to stay.

The Dutchman arrived at Liverpool years ago as a highly-rated prospect but received next to no opportunities at Anfield. Now that he's had them out on loan, he's not happy about the idea of returning to a familiar situation with the Reds.

Van den Berg explains in his interview that he felt he should have been next in line behind Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konaté but despite getting praise from Jurgen Klopp, never got the chance.

Now he wants to leave for regular football permanently - but Liverpool are making it difficult. They've set a high price for his services, reportedly around £20m.

“They haven't radiated confidence in me all this time, but they do want to hinder my future," he told De Telegraaf (via translation). "I want to keep playing weekly and develop myself further.”

Van den Berg's future

Liverpool and Van den Berg are both in an awkward spot here. On the one hand, he's not getting opportunities and they don't appear to be coming.

On the other, Van den Berg is a valuable asset. His efforts last season really could bring in £20m through a sale - but Mainz certainly won't afford that.

So there is a chance that no one pays it and Van den Berg is left without any clear idea of what his future looks like. It's not a nice situation to be in.

On the flip side, there is a chance that Arne Slot takes a liking to him this summer. Every player at Liverpool has a fresh start - Van den Berg included.

While he couldn't quite break in under Klopp, he may just do so under Slot.