Cheeky Bayern tried to sign Van Den Berg during Liverpool medical

Bayern Munich were trying to land new Liverpool signing Sepp Van Den Berg while he was undergoing his Reds medical, according reports.

The Times report that the 17-year-old defender received “a series of increasingly frantic telephone calls to the player’s representatives” as Van Der Berg was been looked at by Liverpool’s medical team.

Bayern were apparently desperate to get the player to Bavaria, but instead Van Den Berg penned a long-term contract at Anfield worth an initial £1.3million.

The Champions League winners have announced the highly-rated PEC Zwolle defender will join them in July – subject to international clearance.

Van den Berg, who made 15 appearances for the Eredivisie side last season, will become Jurgen Klopp’s first signing of the summer.

Van Den Berg told the Premier League club’s website, www.liverpoolfc.com: “It’s just an amazing feeling. It is, for me, the biggest club in the world and it’s a dream come true. I am really excited.

“I’ve seen what kind of players from the academy grew into the first team here. It is unbelievable, especially when this kind of big club does that.

“Of course, the trainer (Klopp) is a great guy and one of the reasons they are successful – and also one of the reasons I came here. I think this is the best place for me to grow and hopefully play a lot of games here.”

Van Den Berg, who has four under-19 caps, will join the first-team squad but is expected to be eased into action with games in the academy side.

Liverpool have also announced that 18-year-old midfielder Abdi Sharif has signed his first professional contract with the club.

Sharif was born in Somalia but raised in Toxteth and has been training with the club since the age of six.

He was a member of the side that won the FA Youth Cup last season, scoring a penalty in the shoot-out, and has also played in the Under-23s team.