kicker reports that Mainz have a clause in the loan agreement with Liverpool for Sepp van den Berg that they have first right of refusal over a permanent move.
Since joining in 2023 after spending a year on loan at Schalke, van den Berg has settled into the Mainz team and has become a key player in their defence in the midst of their fight for survival in the Bundesliga. The 22-year-old produced a good display in Mainz’s 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend.
New Mainz boss, Bo Henriksen had a lot of praise for the defender: “He is a leader and the boss in the middle. He’s getting better and better,”
However, Mainz may not be able to afford to bring van den Berg to the club permanently. Due to Mainz’s league performance, they could lose around €2m if they stay in the league, whilst relegation could mean a loss of even more money.
Mainz currently sits 17th in the Bundesliga 10 points from safety with 11 games left to play. The 05ers need something close to a miracle to maintain their Bundesliga status come the end of the season.
GGFN | Jack Meenan