Xabi Alonso Personally Called Liverpool Defender Amid Brentford Interest
The 22-year-old is finally set to permanently bid adieu to his club for the last five years with multiple clubs showing keen interest in taking him.
The race now appears to be down to either Brentford or German champions Leverkusen.
Alonso called Van den Berg on the phone in recent days, according to German broadcaster Sky Deutschland, to sell the move to Leverkusen to him.
Liverpool though want a £20m fee for Van den Berg and also want the interested clubs to pay another £5m in add-ons.
The asking price is currently too high for Leverkusen, who want to sign Van den Berg if another defender leaves before the deadline.
With Brentford willing to meet Liverpool’s price, Van den Berg must now decide whether he wants to wait for Leverkusen or go to the Bees.
As the Premier League heats up, Anfield is set to host a captivating fixture between Liverpool and Brentford on Saturday, August 24, 2024. Fans are braced for a 3pm kick-off, and those unable to attend can watch the action unfold live on Sky Sports or follow via Sky Go online.
He continued: “I was playing in pain from March onwards and obviously it was a really important time for the club and then a really important time for my country.
“I hoped that the three weeks off would have settled things down but it didn’t and I needed a wee bit longer. So I managed to get my fitness up to a really good level in terms of not being with the team, which was hugely frustrating.
“But I made sure I was in America, in every team meeting going, asking the coaches questions, things like that, and trying to learn even when I could not be on the pitch. I knew that would put me in the best possible shape when I was on the pitch.
“There’s still lots to learn for all of us – it’s a completely new way of playing and new philosophy and everything. It will take a bit of time, of course it will.
“Obviously coming off towards the end, I started to get a little bit tired, which is normal, but I felt good, I feel good. I am pain-free for the first time in five months, which is always positive, so long may it continue.”
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