Arne Slot and Michael Edwards could be forced into transfer re-think after early pre-season report

Liverpool boss Arne Slot and FSG CEO Michael Edwards could be forced into a transfer re-think this summer following one player's impressive early pre-season report.

The Reds made their return to first-team training at the start of the month and the new manager has been able to assess the majority of his players ahead of the new campaign. However, with some of Liverpool's biggest star's still away following their involvement at Euro 2024 and the Copa America , it's allowed others to impress.

And that's been the case for one player in particular, despite being tipped for a move away from Anfield this summer due to the other options at hand to Slot. According to DaveOCKOP , center-back Sepp van den Berg has been the standout performer in pre-season for the coaching staff at Kirkby.

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The 22-year-old had been expected to seal a move away from the club this summer , whether that be another loan deal or a permanent departure, in order to further his development and find regular first-team football, having failed to make a real breakthrough into Jurgen Klopp's side.

The Dutchman, who can also operate at right-back, joined Liverpool for just $1.6million (£1.3million/€1.5million) as a 17-year-old in June 2019 from Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle but has made just four first-team appearances for the Reds. His last appearance came in February 2020 when he played the full 90 minutes in an FA Cup Fourth Round replay against Shrewsbury Town.

However, there has been plenty of involvement for Liverpool's youth sides, while Van den Berg has spent the last three and a half seasons out on loan, first turning out for Championship side Preston North End in an 18-month spell before heading to Germany to play for Bundesliga clubs Schalke 04 (2022-23) and Mainz 05 (2023-24).

The young defender returned to Liverpool this summer and has been fully involved in Slot's pre-season training , aiming to stake a claim for his plans in the coming campaign. And it now appears that may be the case, with the report adding that his pace and power has caught the eye of the new coaching team.

Van den Berg has developed physically while away from the club over the past 12 months with Mainz 05 , where he scored three goals in 33 Bundesliga games, and may now have put himself in contention for first-team action this season.

The Reds are on the lookout for a new center back following the departure of long time servant Joel Matip at the end of last season, despite already boasting Virgil van Dijk , Ibrahima Konate , Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah among its ranks. The club has been linked with a number of new recruits, but nothing is yet to be finalized.

Now, however, Slot and Edwards may just look closer to home for options, with Van den Berg clearly doing his best to impress and remain at Anfield for the 2024-25 campaign. With Van Dijk, Konate and Gomez yet to return from international duty, it has given the young defender plenty of opportunity to impress.