Earlier this week we covered a report from the Netherlands which explained Arne Slot has been somewhat charmed by Sepp van den Berg and therefore Liverpool aren’t going to make it any easier to sign him this summer.
Even ahead of that the Premier League club had been asking for more than any of the interested sides wanted to pay, and the report made it look like a tricky situation was becoming more complicated.
Mainz director Christian Heidel has now tried to turn the pressure back towards Liverpool by publicly saying Van den Berg wants a move, and therefore return, to the Bundesliga club.
He spent last season on loan and it went well for all involved.
Sky Deutschland journalist Florian Plettenberg quotes him as saying: “We would like him to stay and Sepp would also really like to do it. But we also respect that Liverpool have not decided about it yet. We will not buy a player for over £20m, which is what Liverpool want. Our club cannot do that.”
Part of those comments could relate to Slot not being absolutely sure he wants the player to leave at all. Mainz want another loan agreement, and that may be attractive to the new Liverpool manager if it’s correct he’s become a fan of the defender.
Either way, getting over £20m from anywhere looks difficult.
