Liverpool may block 'pre-negotiated' summer transfer deal ahead of Arne Slot arrival

The Jürgen Klopp era is almost at an end. Soon, Arne Slot will take charge at Liverpool, and plans for his first summer at the helm are already well underway.

Klopp will bid farewell to Anfield on Sunday as he takes charge for the final time against Wolves. The departing manager has already said his goodbyes to the players and staff this week as he brings the curtain down on nine years at Liverpool, which have seen the Reds become a force once again in world football.

It will no doubt be an emotional occasion this weekend, with plenty of spectacular memories to look back on. But the club will have to move forward, and Slot will soon be installed as Klopp’s successor.

Jürgen Klopp dispels FSG transfer myth before leaving Liverpool in intriguing comments

How Liverpool players said goodbye to Jürgen Klopp and moment he burst into tears

Alongside new sporting director Richard Hughes, the Dutchman will have some key decisions to make on the current squad as they embark on the new era at Anfield. It seems one big call may have already been made.

According to SportBild, Sepp van den Berg looks likely to return to Merseyside during the summer, despite a ‘pre-negotiated’ deal to give loan club Mainz the chance to make his move permanent.

Van den Berg has impressed in Germany this season. The 22-year-old has made 35 appearances in total, and helped Mainz to the brink of avoiding relegation — they sit two points above 16th-placed Union Berlin heading into the final game of the campaign.

Bild claims Mainz has a ‘clear goal’ to extend Van den Berg’s stay beyond this season. Liverpool has reportedly made it clear it doesn’t want to send the defender out to a second division club, with Mainz needing just a point on the final day to secure its survival in the Bundesliga.

The German club is said to have first refusal over a permanent transfer, which could cost up to $8.7m (£6.9m/€8m). Ahead of Slot’s arrival as the new Liverpool boss though, it’s claimed that it is more likely that Van den Berg will return to Merseyside in the summer and get a chance to impress in pre-season.

Liverpool.com says: It certainly makes more sense for Slot to get the chance to take a look at all of the players in Liverpool’s squad before making a decision on them. Van den Berg has impressed with Mainz this season, but whether he’ll be able to step up for Liverpool next season is another matter.

Slot should get the opportunity to take a closer look at him and make a decision on his next step. Whether he stays with the Reds, heads back out on loan or moves away permanently should be up to the new boss.