Brentford defender Sepp van den Berg has claimed it would be his "dream" to return to former club Liverpool later in his career.
Van den Berg joined the Bees in a move worth roughly £25m in the summer, after impressing during preseason for Liverpool, and on loan at Mainz last season.
The 23-year-old is currently out with a knee injury, but has started 24 games in all competitions for Thomas Frank's side this season, helping the side in their ambitions of qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history.
The Dutch centre-back moved to the capital along with Fabio Carvalho, and has enjoyed much more first-team action than his fellow former Liverpool teammate, making the most of opportunities handed to him thanks to injuries at the back for Brentford.
Van den Berg having second thoughts about Brentford move?
© Imago
However, in an interview with Dutch outlet VoetbalPrimeur, Van den Berg has gone on record to admit he has some slight regrets about leaving the club that are now destined to win the Premier League title this season.
"I had a few conversations with Arne Slot, but before the preparation started, I already indicated to the club that I wanted to leave and play minutes," Van den Berg revealed.
"I would be lying if I said that I do not dream of returning to Liverpool one day. That is still on my mind. But for now, it was better for my career to take a different path and play a lot.
"That is what I am doing now and that allows me to develop as well as possible. Liverpool indicated that I had done so well that they wanted me to stay, but I did not really see that happening myself. It was all my choice."
Van den Berg was keen to stress that he is not wholly regretful about the decision, stating: "I am happy that I now play in the Premier League every week."
Would Van den Berg have been given more opportunities at Liverpool?
© Imago
Injuries in Liverpool's backline this season means Virgil van Dijk has been the only regular in defence, with Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah all spending time on the sidelines.
That is something that Van den Berg has noticed, and has left him feeling somewhat frustrated, knowing that he could have been given opportunities to deputise, and prove himself in the first team.
"I would be lying if I said that I didn't look at that [the defensive injuries at Liverpool], that's football, I did well in the preseason and I really saw myself playing for the club."
Van den Berg did also claim he is much happier being a first-choice option at Brentford though, instead of being a sporadic stopgap at Anfield.
"At Brentford, I am now a starter who always plays as long as he is fit, at Liverpool I would have been more of a player who had to fill gaps. I would rather be that starter."
However, the Dutchman finished by leaving his future up in the air, once again stating his ambition to return to Merseyside.
"Who knows, if I do well here for two or three years, I will return to Liverpool and be a starter there too."
Van den Berg is set to miss Brentford's clash at home to Liverpool's local rivals Everton on Wednesday, due to the knee injury he sustained in the 1-0 win at West Ham United just over a week ago.
Andrew Delaney
