Liverpool are set to offload defender Sepp van den Berg for around £20 million, with Brentford emerging as strong contenders for the Dutchman, according to The Athletic.
The 22-year-old impressed during Liverpool’s pre-season campaign, prompting manager Arne Slot to consider giving him a first-team opportunity.
However, the Reds appear ready to cash in on the centre-back, who has attracted interest from several clubs.
Mainz 05 and VfL Wolfsburg saw bids rejected, while PSV Eindhoven also expressed interest. Per Sky Germany, Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen have him on their radar.
Brentford have now joined the race for Van den Berg, with the Bees considering the Dutchman as a potential defensive reinforcement alongside Burnley’s Dara O’Shea and Sheffield United’s Anel Ahmedhodzic.
The west London club have a good relationship with Liverpool, having recently acquired Fabio Carvalho from the Anfield outfit.
Van den Berg joined the Reds from PEC Zwolle in 2019 for a fee of £4.4 million but has struggled to break into the first team, spending loan spells at Preston North End, Schalke, and Mainz.
The Liverpool defender was a crucial player for the 05ers last term, helping them keep eight clean sheets in 33 Bundesliga appearances.
Van den Berg won 62% of his duels in the German top flight. He was in the 99th percentile for aerial duels won among defenders in the top five leagues.
Van den Berg is in the 85th percentile for clearances per 90 (5.04 per game) and makes 2.09 blocks per game, which puts him in the 98th percentile. He is also in the 75th percentile for interceptions, recording 1.36 per match.
He has also shown a knack for goals, bagging three last term (he also missed three big chances).
Despite his excellent showings in the German top flight, Van den Berg is surplus to requirements at Anfield, with Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Jarell Quansah, and Joe Gomez all ahead of him in the pecking order.
