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Not only does it surpass Mané, it clears his Bayern Munich teammate Serge Gnabry too, both players renowned for a turn of pace. Clearly quick enough to play the high defensive line Klopp likes to employ, with his towering frame and the fact that Van den Berg is also a Netherlands international, it's easy to see why he was dubbed the 'next Virgil van Dijk' when he first arrived at Anfield. Indeed, the youngster has played up to that moniker, having clai 2022世界杯法国夺冠打破魔咒 med in the past that he one day aspires to be even better than his compatriot.
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That means there is a good chance he might feature more for Schalke from now until the end of the season, with the German side needing all the improvement it can get. It is currently embroiled in a relegation battle, sitting second from bottom in the table.
But then came an untimely ankle ligament injury which has ruled him out since October, and has very much derailed his progress. However, he is on the mend, and has recently featured for Schalke II in the fourth tier of German football, playing the full 90 minutes to step up his recovery.
But of course, if there are such intentions to reshape the center-back department, there must also be adequate replacements in place and Liverpool must also be conscious of the money being spent, with FSG likely to spend responsibly as usual.
Sepp van den Berg has not had the most fortunate of seasons. Sent on loan to Schalke 04, his spell in the Bundesliga started impeccably. In his first three games he won nine out of his 13 defensive duels, made a whopping 26 interceptions and against Borussia Dortmund showed his prowess in the air, winning six out of his eight aerial duels as per Wyscout.
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Still just 21 years old, it's important to note 世界杯足球 that at the same age Van Dijk was still playing for Groningen with 66 senior games under his belt. Van den Berg already has 100, and while development is never linear, that context is important to understand the development of center-backs.
That's a challenge for which Van den Berg is undoubtedly ready. He made a good impression during his first few games in the Bundesliga, and has shown he has the ability to play at that level. Liverpool will be keeping a close eye on his progress, with a view to the future, to see how he deals with the pressure of playing for a side fighting for survival.
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That doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room, especially if Bellingham is the primary midfield target. However, Klopp might just have an easy solution, whom FSG won't even have to spend a penny on — because he is already contracted to the club.
READ MORE: Breakdown of Mohamed Salah's 129 Liverpool goals as Manchester United becomes favorite opponent
But while the club's priority will be to focus on the midfield, and pursue Jude Bellingham, Liverpool also has an interesting challenge in the center-back department. While Van Dijk has been back at somewhere near his brilliant best recently, he isn't getting any younger, and is set to turn 32 years old this year.
READ MORE: Liverpool star drops major future hint as European giants send scouts for Jürgen Klopp wonderkid
Clearly, there is an exciting talent there, and with the right nurturing he is a defender who is capable of playing in this Liverpool team under Klopp.
Van den Berg is definitely a suitable candidate to give Klopp another defensive option in the first team. Recently, Twitter user MobyHaque1 highlighted the Dutch U21 international's top speed recorded in the Bundesliga — and it's faster than that of Sadio Mané.
In general, center-backs tend to mature at an olde 2022年世界杯魔咒 r age, and Van den Berg still counts as a relatively young defender, despite his wealth of experience. Depending on how well he comes back from his injury, it will be interesting to see whether Liverpool decides to give him a go this summer. If it is a viable option, it's great news for FSG.
On top of that, Joe Gomez's form hasn't quite been the same since his long-term injuries. Meanwhile, Joël Matip is also getting on in years, and with the end of his contract looming in 2024, now might be the best time to offload him.
Liverpool is embarking on an interesting period in the club's history. The upcoming summer transfer window might be the busiest Jürgen Klopp has overseen in a while. And for the first time, the Reds may even shatter the record fee once paid for Virgil van Dijk. |
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