Liverpool defender set to seal exit with Brentford and Bayer Leverkusen interested

Sepp van den Berg is close to sealing a permanent exit from Liverpool. The defender has interest from Brentford and Bayer Leverkusen and is in talks with both clubs.

As per a report in The Athetlic, Brentford are hoping to beat the Bundesliga champions to the signing of the Dutch defender. The 22-year-old is keen on playing every week and has already confirmed that he wants to leave Liverpool.

The Reds are now open to selling the defender, but are looking to make at least £20 million from the sale. They had signed him from PEC Zwolle for £13 million before loaning him out to Preston North End, Schalke 04, and Mainz 05.

Brentford are keen on bolstering their defense and see the Liverpool defender as the perfect fit. Xabi Alonso’s side were impressed with the Dutchman’s performances at Mainz and are also interested in him.

ALSO READ: Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg close to leaving in £20 million deal

Thomas Frank has admitted that he wants to sign a defender before the end of the month. They have also been linked with Burnley’s Dara O’Shea but the Liverpool star remains their main target.

Sepp van den Berg spoke to De Telegraaf earlier this summer and confirmed that he was looking to leave Liverpool as he has not got the chances he deserves at Anfield. He said:

“In all honesty, I was no longer looked after. I knew for sure that I couldn’t get into Liverpool’s first team from PEC Zwolle [in 2019]. I could have spent another year or two at Liverpool, but I really wanted to play. I demanded to be loaned out. Every time, because I felt I was getting better and better. I also made great strides physically. I also felt ‘ready’. I had a good conversation with the manager. He said he had received good reports. I certainly understood that I was not going to eliminate Van Dijk, [Joel] Matip or [Ibrahima] Konate, but I thought I could get behind them straight away. When I didn’t get a chance again, I said, ‘Figure it out, I want to leave again’.”

He added:

“You have not radiated confidence in me all this time, but you do want to hinder my future. I want to continue playing every week and further develop myself.”

Liverpool sold Fabio Carvalho to Brentford earlier this summer window and have a good relationship with the London side. They managed to make £27.5 million from the sale of the Portuguese star.