Club have ‘mini-hope’ of keeping Liverpool player for longer despite current situation

Schalke have a ‘mini-hope’ of keeping Liverpool defender Sepp Van den Berg on another loan deal for next season.

That’s according to Sport BILD, who say the German side would like to keep the youngster beyond the end of the season.

The 21-year-old has been with the Bundesliga side since the summer after moving on loan in search of regular playing time.

He hasn’t managed to achieve that as a series of injuries of have limited him to just four appearances in the league this season and just 16% of the available minutes.

That, though, hasn’t bothered the German side and SportBILD say that the hope is they can keep the Liverpool loanee at the end of the year.

While they’re planning a major overhaul of the squad, particularly if they are relegated and forced into it, Van den Berg is not one of the ones they want to see depart.

Indeed, those in charge at the club ‘have a mini-hope’ of being able to extend his loan deal even in the event of relegation.

That will be determined by Liverpool, who are likely to wait until the defender has recovered from torn ankle ligaments before making a decision.