The start of the season has shown: Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 are plagued by major defensive concerns. Shortly before the end of the change period, the district club apparently wants to upgrade. A centre-back from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool could join the Royal Blues. But another club is apparently also involved.
FC Schalke 04 wants to reposition itself in the central defense: U21 national player Malick Thiaw is about to move to AC Milan and, according to Italian media reports, will transfer around five million euros to the Knappen coffers. According to “picture” another young and talented central defender.
According to the tabloid, Sepp van den Berg from Liverpool FC is expected for a medical check-up in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday morning. The 20-year-old defender could even be introduced to the fans when the public training session takes place.
“sky“Reporter Dirk g. Schlarmann reported on Monday evening that van den Berg is already in Gelsenkirchen to hold talks with the S04 bosses. The only problem: the deal is not yet done, as apparently there is another German one Club is said to be in the running, but it is not known which club it is.
There is no fixed transfer in the room, but a change on loan. At Schalke 04, the Dutch U21 international should get the much-needed match practice. Van den Berg’s future should lie with the Reds, at least in the medium term, his contract with the English runners-up is dated until 2024.
Van den Berg makes his Eredivisie debut at 16
For the professional squad of team manager Jürgen Klopp, the right foot who was once trained at PEC Zwolle is not planned anyway. For the past year and a half, van den Berg has been on loan to second division club Preston North End.
There, the 1.89 meter tall defender made 61 competitive appearances and was in the starting XI 58 times. He made his Eredivisie debut for Zwolle at the age of 16 and made 23 competitive appearances before moving to England. He has played twice under Klopp in the English FA Cup since then.
With the youngster, Schalke head coach Frank Kramer would at least have another option for the defensive, which has not really been solid in the four games since returning to the Bundesliga. In the home game against 1. FC Union (1:6), the problems became more than clear, S04 have already conceded eleven goals.