Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg could join AFC Bournemouth on loan this summer, according to reports.
The 20-year-old Dutchman has spent the last 18 months with Preston North End in the Championship, after joining as part of the deal that brought Ben Davies to Anfield.
The defender made 50 appearances for North End last season, and was utilised in multiple positions including right-back and right wing-back alongside his preferred berth in central defence.
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He has had a strong pre-season to date, and the media were wowed by his performance against Crystal Palace.
With competition intense at Anfield for places in the backline (Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez are all ahead of him), it was commonly thought that Van Den Berg would again be loaned this season, either to a higher-level Championship club or a Premier League outfit.
AFC Bournemouth are the perfect option and are interested in securing his services according to journalist Alan Nixon.
Scott Parker’s men were somewhat unconvincingly promoted in the context of last season, with the club piling huge financial backing behind the former Fulham man.
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Now, after only recruiting Ryan Fredericks and Joe Rothwell on free transfers, they are the bookies' favourites to be relegated from the Premier League.
An addition like Van Den Berg, with his versatility, could help the club cover in a multitude of positions.
In the centre-back area, they’ve released Gary Cahill and have not chosen to invest in a permanent deal for Van Den Berg’s teammate Nat Phillips, who spent six months under Parker last term.
He is contracted to Liverpool until 2024, and a loan move would likely be partnered with a contract extension or a new deal in itself.
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He arrived at Anfield after making a breakthrough aged just 16 for PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie, and has matured since his original campaign which saw him attract critics for his performances in cup competitions.
He is currently part of Liverpool’s pre-season tour in Austria, where they are preparing to face RB Salzburg on Wednesday before taking on Manchester City in the Community Shield.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Liverpool, Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours, Bournemouth