The Dutch defender arrived at Liverpool in 2019 from PEC Zwolle, but over the past five years, he has only made four senior appearances for the club. Instead, he has had three loan spells at Preston North End, Schalke, and most recently Mainz.

Liverpool is now seeking to offload the player permanently in the upcoming summer transfer window, setting a price tag of £20 million ($25.6m). Premier League clubs Brentford and Southampton have shown interest in acquiring him. Mainz also attempted to secure his permanent signing for under £5m ($6m), but Liverpool is hesitant to let him go for such a low sum.

In a candid interview with De Telegraaf, the 22-year-old expressed frustration with Liverpool, accusing the Premier League giants of hindering his future. He stated, “I knew that I couldn’t get from PEC Zwolle [straight] to Liverpool’s first team. I could have been at Liverpool for one or two more years, but I wanted to play with all my might. I demanded to be [loaned] out. Every time, because I felt that I was getting better and better. I also made great strides physically.”

He continued, “You (Liverpool) didn’t exude confidence in me all this time, but you do want to hinder my future. I want to keep playing every week and develop myself further. In Germany, I enjoy Dortmund away with 70,000 people, Bayern Munich away against Harry Kane, Stuttgart, Leipzig, Leverkusen, against clubs like that I am challenged every week.”

The young defender, who featured in 36 games across all competitions for his German side this season, aims to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution with Liverpool to secure a move away from the club.