Liverpool are battling a host of big European clubs for the signing of Dutch prospect Sepp van den Berg from PEC Zwolle.

Bayern Munich are reported to be desperate to sign the 17-year-old centre-back, Sampdoria bid £2.5m for him in January and Ajax and PSV Eindhoven are also circling.

Liverpool already have four center-backs in Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren, but view Van Den Berg as a player they can develop for the long term, while also recognising he has the potential to play first-team football immediately if required.

It's understood the club view the player as a similar project and at a similar stage of development as Joe Gomez when he signed from Charlton in 2015.

Due to the stiff competition Liverpool face - Bayern need to replace Mats Hummels who has returned to Dortmund, Ajax are looking for a long-term replacement for Matthijs de Ligt - Van Den Berg's signing would represent a real coup for Michael Edwards and his transfer team.

The next 72 hours are likely to decide the future of the Dutch U19 international.

Source: Sky Sports

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