Written by James Cranford – @jamescranford89
One of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s last great goals for Liverpool came in a 4-1 away victory over Genk in 2019. The 29-year-old managed to play himself into a bit of form when Mo Salah and Sadio Mané were away at the AFCON last season, but drifted out of the team soon after and is now unfortunately out with a long-term injury. Lining up for the Belgian side that day was a young Sander Berge. The Norwegian midfielder has been linked with a late-window transfer to Anfield from Sheffield United. Berge has previously been on the Reds’ radar but stayed with the South Yorkshire side despite their relegation from the Premier League in 2021.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight Show, we asked goal.com’s Neil Jones on the likelihood of Berge moving to Merseyside in this window.
Neil said:
“I don’t know how that expresses itself, is it someone overhears Jürgen Klopp saying ‘I really like Sander Berge’?!
He was linked with a lot of big clubs. There were a few at Genk at the time. Berge was probably the most high-profile of them. He is one of those players – you look at his pedigree and where he’s been linked in the past and you see him in the Championship and you think: ‘Surely you’ll be going a bit higher than that at some point?’
Sheffield United to Liverpool is a huge jump. I don’t see Liverpool signing him personally, but he might be one, if he’s got a release clause or a desire to get out of Sheffield United and play in the Premier League. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a Premier League club that comes and takes him. Let’s say Keita left, a crazy offer came in, and Liverpool decided we need a player to fill a gap, maybe you could see it. I wouldn’t say Berge is going to replace Keita. I don’t see where he fits into Liverpool’s team straight away or even in the long term.”
Redmen Reacts
This is a signing that would only make sense if Liverpool can virtually guarantee making a profit on him in the future. The Reds have mixed fortunes with signings from the Championship.
Andy Robertson was signed from newly-relegated Hull City and has become a Liverpool legend before the age of 30.
Ben Davies was signed from Preston North End with the Reds in the midst of a defensive injury crisis. He left this summer having never played a competitive game for the club. Julian Ward’s team did manage to make a tidy profit on the lesser-spotted Cumbrian centre-back, so the signing was not a complete failure.
If Berge were to come in and play a bit-part role, something akin to that of Takumi Minamino, it could still be a worthwhile signing if he were to be moved on for a good fee. Much depends on Naby Keita’s contract situation.
If the Guinean is determined to leave, Liverpool do not have long to sell him for a fee and bring in a replacement. If reports of Keita’s unhappiness are overstated, it is unlikely that the giant Norwegian midfielder will be swapping his red-and-white stripes for all-red.
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