Sepp van den Berg Finalises Loan Move to Mainz for 2023/24 Season
Liverpool youngster Sepp van den Berg has finalised a loan move to German club Mainz for the 2023/24 season. The 21-year-old Dutchman becomes the sixth Liverpool player to go out on loan for the upcoming campaign, ready to put an injury-hit season behind him.
Van den Berg played just nine games for Schalke in the Bundesliga last term having seen his season derailed by a serious ankle injury. Mainz have hinted at a longer spell for the young defender, with the possibility of his stay being over a longer period of time.
Van den Berg signed a new deal with the Reds last summer, keeping him contracted at Anfield until 2026. Liverpool are in a strong position when it comes to Van den Berg as they can watch his development and assess if there is a future for him on Merseyside.
Van den Berg’s Best Chance of Contention for Role at Liverpool
Van den Berg would have been competing with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip for a role at Liverpool this season, but the latter is out of contract in 2024. A new left-sided centre-back is on the wishlist for this summer, and Van den Berg’s best chance of being in contention for a role in the future is to play consistently and to a high standard with Mainz.
It was only last summer that Van den Berg voiced his dream is to “succeed” at Liverpool, but, for now, his focus will be firmly on playing regularly in the Bundesliga. Mainz will be hoping that Van den Berg can help them achieve their goal of avoiding relegation this season, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in the German top flight.
Van den Berg’s Injury Troubles
Van den Berg’s injury troubles have been well documented over the past few years. He suffered a serious ankle injury last season which saw him miss most of the campaign with Schalke. He also had a spell on the sidelines with Preston North End during his loan spell there in 2019/20.
It is hoped that Van den Berg can put his injury troubles behind him and stay fit for the duration of his loan spell with Mainz. If he can do that, then he will have every chance of succeeding at Liverpool in the future.
Conclusion
Sepp van den Berg has finalised a loan move to Mainz for the 2023/24 season. The 21-year-old Dutchman is hoping to put an injury-hit season behind him and play regularly in the Bundesliga. Liverpool are in a strong position when it comes to Van den Berg as they can watch his development and assess if there is a future for him on Merseyside.
Van den Berg’s best chance of being in contention for a role at Liverpool in the future is to play consistently and to a high standard with Mainz. It remains to be seen how he performs in the German top flight and whether he can stay fit for the duration of his loan spell.