A Liverpool player has asked to leave the club on new manager Arne Slot's first day in charge in an explosive interview.
Slot officially replaces departing manager Jurgen Klopp at Anfield today after leaving Feyenoord.
The 45-year-old will have a lengthy to-do list this summer as he attempts to get across his tactics and style of play to his new players - many of whom will miss most of pre-season whilst playing at Euro 2024 and the Copa America.
One player who will be available through pre-season is defender Sepp van den Berg, who spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Bundesliga side Mainz.
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The 22-year-old, who joined Liverpool from Dutch side PEC Zwolle back in 2019, has made four cup appearances for the Reds but is yet to make his competitive Premier League debut.
The Athletic have reported that Liverpool are willing to sell Van den Berg this summer, but are demanding a fee of £20 million.
And speaking to De Telegraaf, the centre-back has made clear his feelings about that asking price - and about his future at Anfield.
He said: "I knew that I couldn't get from PEC Zwolle to Liverpool's first team. I could have been at Liverpool for one or two more years, but I wanted to play with all my might.
"I demanded to be [loaned] out. Every time, because I felt that I was getting better and better. I also made great strides physically."
Van den Berg spent 18 months on loan at Championship side Preston North End from January 2021, initially playing as a right-back under Alex Neil before then featuring on the right of a three-man central defence under Frankie McAvoy and then Ryan Lowe.
While making 66 appearances for the club, Van den Berg says he felt 'ready' to play for Liverpool.
"I had a good conversation with the management. He said, he had received good reports. I understood that I wasn't going to play Van Dijk, Matip or Konate out [of the team]. But I thought I could be right behind it.
"When I didn't get a chance again, I said: 'Figure it out, I want to leave. You [Liverpool] didn't exude confidence in me all this time, but you do want to hinder my future'.
"I want to keep playing every week and develop myself further. In Germany, I enjoy Dortmund away with 70,000 people, Bayern Munich away against Harry Kane. Stuttgart, Leipzig, Leverkusen - against clubs like that I am challenged every week."
It appears clearly, therefore, that Van den Berg will be leaving Liverpool this summer unless Slot decides to give him a chance in the first team.
Topics: Liverpool, Football, Premier League, Arne Slot, Transfers
Ryan Smart