Sepp van den Berg’s loan spell at Mainz ended on a high note, as his goal secured the club’s spot in the Bundesliga for the upcoming season. This impressive performance has sparked talks of Mainz triggering a buyout clause in their deal with Liverpool to make the defender’s move permanent.
The buyout clause, reportedly set at less than €5 million, could see Van den Berg leave Liverpool for a fee similar to what the Reds paid for him when he first joined from PEC Zwolle in 2019. Liverpool initially paid £1.3 million for the then-17-year-old, but with various add-ons, the total fee could go up to £4.4 million. If the move to Mainz goes through, Liverpool would make little profit from the player.
The details of the agreement between Liverpool and Mainz are not entirely clear, but there is a strong desire from the German club to retain Van den Berg. His performances this season, which included 36 appearances and three goals, have impressed Mainz and they see him as a valuable asset.
However, it remains to be seen whether Van den Berg will choose to stay at Mainz or return to Liverpool for the pre-season. With new head coach Arne Slot taking charge at Anfield, Van den Berg may see this as an opportunity to impress and secure a place in the first team.
Slot is likely familiar with Van den Berg’s abilities, as the Dutch defender has represented the Netherlands U21 side and played 22 times for PEC Zwolle’s senior team as a teenager. With Joel Matip leaving Liverpool on a free transfer, the club is expected to be in the market for a new centre-back. However, Van den Berg could already be a suitable option to join Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Jarell Quansah, and Joe Gomez in the squad.
One advantage of keeping Van den Berg at Liverpool is that he qualifies as a homegrown player. This could be particularly beneficial for the club in domestic competitions like the Premier League and Champions League, where there are restrictions on the number of non-homegrown players in the squad.
Overall, the potential permanent move to Mainz is an interesting development for Sepp van den Berg and Liverpool. While it may not result in significant financial gain for the Reds, it presents an opportunity for the 22-year-old defender to establish himself as a key player, whether it’s at Mainz or by impressing Liverpool’s new head coach during pre-season.