With Joel Matip‘s time at Liverpool more likely to be drawing to an in depth, the Reds might have already got their substitute on the membership in Sepp van den Berg.
The younger Dutch defender has been on mortgage within the Bundesliga for the final 18 months: first at Schalke, now with Mainz.
Regardless of final season ending in relegation and his present membership being on the identical path, Van den Berg has truly impressed throughout his time away from Merseyside.
So might he have a future at Liverpool? Or do ideas of an possibility to purchase at Mainz spell a summer season sale?
Sam Millne (@sam_millne) spoke to Bundesliga commentators Dan O’Hagan (@danohagan) and Kevin Hatchard (@kevinhatchard) to debate the 22-year-old defender’s prospects.
The place has he seemed greatest?
DAN: Nicely I noticed him perhaps have his greatest sport at Dortmund (1-1) in December, the place he performed on the left of their defence that evening.
At Mainz, clearly they have an inclination to sit down very, very deep. They’re very defensive, they know their limitations.
I’d like to see him play in a greater workforce to get an actual measure of what his all-round sport is like, as a result of proper now he’s very a lot backs to the wall, all fingers on the pump.
KEVIN: He has performed primarily in a again 4, and has seemed snug in that setup, however I see no cause why he couldn’t play in a 3.
How has he developed this season?
DAN: Clearly Schalke went down final season and Mainz are within the relegation locations this season as effectively, however Van Den Berg’s improvement has been monumental.
These are two seasons now of taking part in in a serious European league. He’s not seemed misplaced in any respect.
As I say, this season he’s actually taken strides ahead in his sport,
KEVIN: Van den Berg has had a stable season in a struggling Mainz workforce.
He has began nearly all of matches at centre-back, and is growing effectively, simply as he did in a struggling Schalke facet final season.
What do the stats say?
KEVIN: At time of writing he has gained 110 aerial duels, placing him second within the total record.
He has usually seemed snug in possession, and he has been clocked at a prime pace of 34.78 km/h this time period, placing him within the prime 30 of Bundesliga gamers.
Though Mainz have solely gained as soon as within the league this time period, their fundamental downside has been scoring targets, not conserving them out.
They really have one of many league’s greatest data when it comes to photographs allowed this season.
DAN: I feel should you take a look at aerial duels gained, greatest centre-back within the league.
He scored a aim towards Dortmund in December and, in a really, very shaky and really muddled Mainz season, he’s been, by a great distance, their greatest defensive participant.
Ought to he get an opportunity at Liverpool?
DAN: I don’t see why not. This season he’s actually taken strides ahead in his sport, so he’s actually value a go at Liverpool.
He’s a participant with expertise within the Eredivisie already underneath his belt, now two years within the Bundesliga, and he’s received higher and higher every season.
KEVIN: If Mainz keep up, it wouldn’t shock me in the event that they set off the purchase possibility, as he’s been one in every of their higher performers – even when Mainz have solely gained as soon as within the league this time period.
• Thanks once more to Dan O’Hagan and Kevin Hatchard for his or her perception on Sepp van den Berg. Comply with Dan @danohagan and Kevin @kevinhatchard on Twitter.
