Arne Slot faces player exit demand on first day as Liverpool manager as Jurgen Klopp replacement officially begins role
Arne Slot's first official day as Liverpool manager began with one of his players demanding to leave the club.
Young defender Sepp van den Berg has urged the Reds to arrange a permanent release for him, accusing the club of “hindering” his future.
The 22-year-old signed for Liverpool in 2019 from Dutch side PEC Zwolle, but has made just four first-team appearances since.
Van den Berg has spent much of his time at the Premier League giants on loan, most recently at Bundesliga side Mainz where he was a regular player.
And he looks set to leave Anfield for more consistent first-team action, under a new boss. Slot potentially set to oversee one of his first team departures as Reds coach.
speaking to TelegraafVan den Berg admitted he feels it is time to leave and suggested the club had reneged on previous promises during his playing time.
“I knew I couldn't go from PEC Zwolle (directly) to Liverpool's first team,” he said. “I could have been at Liverpool for one or two more years, but I wanted to play with all my might.
“I asked to be loaned. Every time, because I felt like I was getting better and better. I also made great progress physically. Just the whole (first) season. On the one hand, it was great.
“Yes, how does that work? You are 17, 18 years old, you are central in defense in training against the starting eleven, you have to build and then come Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah.” to you. It was hard, but I enjoyed it. But honestly, they didn't take care of me anymore.
“I also felt 'ready' (in 2021). I had a good conversation with the management. He said he had received good reports. I understood that I was not going to play with (Virgil) Van Dijk, (Joel) Matip or (Ibrahima) Konate came out (from the team). But I thought I might be behind him. When I didn't get the chance again, I said, 'Figure it out, I want to leave.'
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“You (Liverpool) have not shown confidence in me all this time, but you want to hinder my future. I want to continue playing every week and develop more.
“In Germany I enjoy (Borussia) Dortmund away from home with 70,000 people, Bayern Munich away against Harry Kane, Stuttgart, (RB) Leipzig, (Bayer) Leverkusen, against clubs like that, they face me every week.”
According to The Athletic Jaime PearceLiverpool value Van den Berg at around £20m, and Mainz do not have an option to buy in his loan deal.
The Dutch defender could therefore be one of the Reds' first departures of the summer, with Slot officially taking up his role as head coach on Saturday.
He arrives at Anfield to replace Jurgen Klopp After his time at Feyenoord, where he won the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup.
Liverpool are yet to officially reveal the slot but he will soon be in action on the bench for pre-season, which includes a trip to the United States.
