"Our club cannot do that" - Club boss confirms talks with Liverpool for defender, but asking price is too high

The summer transfer window just doesn't seem to be moving for Liverpool. Mainz seem to be out of reckoning for a move for young Reds defender Sepp van den Berg, who was on loan with them last season.

Mainz executive Christian Heidel has said that the club would like to keep Sepp for another season on loan. However, they are waiting for the Reds to confirm if that's an option for the upcoming campaign.

"We would like him to stay, and Sepp would also really like to do it. But we also respect that Liverpool have not decided about it yet."

As of now, the Reds are looking for a permanent deal for the centre-back. But Heidel said that the asking price of £20 million is beyond Mainz, as it would require them to break their transfer record.

"We will not buy a player for over £20m, which is what #LFC want. Our club cannot do that."

Here's the post on X by Sky Sports' Florian Plettenberg:

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Liverpool's defensive options being assessed by Arne Slot

Since signing for the Reds in 2019, Sepp van den Berg, 22, has spent the last four seasons on loan. He was initially sent to the lower leagues in England, with Preston North End, to gain experience before moving to Germany with Schalke and most recently, Mainz 05.

A move involving another centre-back also seems to have come crashing, with Newcastle United deciding not to follow through on their initial interest in versatile defender Joe Gomez. The Englishman was set to move to Tyneside in a cash-plus-player deal for winger Anthony Gordon.

Reds manager Arne Slot is assessing his defensive options. Joel Matip left on a free at the end of last season. With Virgil van Dijk a mainstay in his backline, Jarrell Quansah's emergence and Ibrahima Konate, a fourth spot is up for grabs.

The summer transfer window may well turn out in favour of Van den Berg if Liverpool are able to move Gomez on.