Liverpool loan defender sent 'quality' manager message after milestone

Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe has lauded praise the way of current on-loan Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg.

Insisting he tried to sign the 21-year-old whilst with former club Plymouth Argyle, Lowe believes the Dutchman has all the qualities to reach the very top of the game.

Having now been with The Lilywhites for 12 months, van den Berg has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet, as well as becoming a fan favourite at Deepdale along the way.

With Saturday bringing up the former Zwolle defender's 50th game in a Preston shirt, manager Lowe admitted he himself has been an admirer of the defender long before his arrival in Lancashire.

“Well I did see him (before coming here) because I tried to sign him for Plymouth Argyle!” said the 43-year-old.

“He chose to come here and obviously he was always going to do that, because it’s the Championship. But yeah, we know the quality he has got and he’s still a young lad, learning.

With Transfermarkt suggesting the Dutchman’s value is around the £2.7 million and with his current Reds deal not set to expire until 2024, Preston would have to in fact break their current transfer record in order to secure the defender's services on a permanent basis.

“Again, he is obviously not ours, but he’s been thrusted in to come and play for us, the way we play and he’s becoming a man on a daily basis. His footballing ability is very good but if you ask Sepp, he probably wants to get better and better.

“He’s certainly helping the team to be that and so if he continues his form – 50 games for Preston is fantastic isn’t it? But I am sure the lad will want to go and play 50 games for his parent club as well, in the future. If we can help him do that, then great,”