Football News

Liverpool could rival Napoli to Sander Berge signing, say Genk

By Harry Edwards

Published: 18:27, 14 November 2019

Liverpool are interested in signing Genk midfielder Sander Berge, according to the club’s sporting director.

The 21-year-old has impressed for Genk this season and is being linked with a move away from the Belgian club in the January transfer window, with Napoli among those interested.

Liverpool will have been able to have a look at Berge when they faced Genk in the Champions League this season, with the midfielder playing 180 minutes against the Reds.

Who is Sander Berge: Five things to know…

  • Age: 21.
  • Position: Defensive midfield.
  • Career path so far: Asker (2013 – 2015) > Valerenga (2015 – 2017) > Genk (2017 – ).
  • Key stat: Berge has completed 127 passes in the Champions League this season, more than any over Genk player.
  • Did you know? Berge made his senior debut for Norway aged 19 and has received 18 caps.

The Reds have enjoyed a fine start to the 2019/20 campaign, building on their Champions League title last season to lead the Premier League after 12 games.

Jurgen Klopp’s men have won 11 games, drawing the other, opening up an eight-point gap to Leicester City in second place and are in good stead to win the league for the first time in 30 years.

But the Reds are being linked with bolstering their squad to ensure there are no slip-ups in the second half of the season, with midfield believed to be the weakest part of their team.

Genk sporting director Dimitri De Conde has revealed Liverpool are paying close attention to the midfielder.

“If Napoli has already blocked Berge? I read it and it’s not like that,” he told Radio Puno Nuovo, per the Mirror.

“Napoli are interested in Sander and it’s is a possibility.

“We also know Liverpool follow him carefully. Klopp spoke to the boy after the Anfield game, congratulating him on the performance.

“In Italy there are clubs that follow Berge and Napoli could be one of these, but to date we have no concrete offers on the table. It could even change in the coming weeks.”

However, De Conde hopes Genk will be able to keep Berge until the end of the season, such is his importance to the team.

“We are currently fighting for our seasonal goals and we are in a complicated situation,” he added.

“Our intention is to hold on to Sander until the end of the season, but we can’t make any predictions. If the big clubs come knocking at our door, we will have to start negotiations, just as the agent has to do.

“These are situations we can’t predict, we’re focused on our season, hoping to keep Sander until May. Then if a top club like Napoli is serious, we will sit at the same table to negotiate, it is logical.

“The current valuation of Berge? We do not talk about figures; we do not set a price at the moment. We will see when we find ourselves in a negotiation.”

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Berge recalls “wonderful” moment with Klopp

After Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Genk at Anfield, Reds boss Klopp was seen talking to Berge – starting the transfer rumours circling.

And although the midfielder refused to reveal exactly what was said, Berge admitted it was a great moment to be complimented by someone of Klopp’s stature.

“It was a great moment,” he said.

“You have a big smile when you receive those sorts of compliments.

“It is wonderful when such a renowned manager as Jurgen Klopp comes over and says something like that.”