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Exclusive: Preston in pole position to sign Liverpool defender Van den Berg

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Published on:

28 Jan 2021, 11:21 am

Preston North End are in pole position to sign Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.

The centre-back, 19, has been given the green light by the Merseysiders to go on loan ahead of next Monday's transfer cut-off.

A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Preston lead the chase for Van den Berg ahead of other Championships sides as well as European clubs.

Talks have taken place as Preston look to strengthen their defence amid growing fears they will lose star man Ben Davies.

North End have already re-signed left-back Greg Cunningham from Cardiff City in a deal that was announced on Thursday.

But midfielder Ben Pearson has agreed to join Bournemouth on a three-and-a-half year deal and was headed down south for a medical on Thursday afternoon.

Van den Berg has been identified by Preston and other Championship sides as a defender capable of making an instant impact in the English second tier.

Liverpool are keen for him to get first-team experience after overlooking him this season despite their chronic injury problems at centre-back.

The teenager, who moved to Anfield from PEC Zwolle in June 2019 for around £1.3million, has not added to the four first-team appearances he made last season.

Van den Berg has been with the Under-23s this season and played eight times in Premier League 2.

The youngster has previous top-flight experience after accumulating 23 Eredivisie appearances at former club Zwolle.

In other news, a top pundit has shared to Football Insider a Liverpool centre-back signing reveal amid "leak".

Liverpool FC

Preston North End