Pep Lijnders could be eyeing up one of his former charges from Liverpool this summer, although Jurgen Klopp ’s former assistant may have already talked himself out of a transfer .
Having left Anfield earlier in the summer, Lijnders has made the perfect start to his new job in charge of Red Bull Salzburg. After thrashing second tier side Dornbirn 6-0 in the Austrian Cup last week, he guided his new side to a thrilling 3-2 win away at Grazer AK on the opening night of the league campaign on Friday.
Bigger tests lie in wait, with the first leg of Salzburg’s Champions League qualifier against Dutch side Twente coming up on Tuesday. To help him along, Lijnders is reportedly looking for a favor from the Reds.
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According to Caught Offside , Klopp’s former right-hand man is keen on taking Liverpool youngster Bobby Clark to Salzburg. They cite a report DAVEOCKOP claiming that Liverpool has already turned down an offer worth $7.7m (£6m/€7m), with Salzburg said to be planning to return with an improved offer.
Not only that, but it’s claimed that the Austrian champion is prepared to break its transfer record in order to sign the midfielder, which perhaps gives an indication of just how highly he is rated by Lijnders.
The Dutchman worked closely with Liverpool’s youngsters during his time at the club, with Clark one of those who really caught his eye. On the odd occasions Lijnders was called upon for media duties, he was often glowing in his praise for the 19-year-old.
That may well work against him though, with Lijnders having effectively told Liverpool why it should be keeping hold of Clark earlier this year.
Speaking about him alongside Conor Bradley before the Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham in January, Lijnders said: “They are not backup players, they are part of our squad, they are young, they are hungry and they are made for games like this.
“Look what happened to Jarell [Quansah], we put him in at Newcastle when we were with 10 men. After that, he feels our trust, he knows that we really can rely on him and he makes the steps he makes.
“Young players just need opportunities. They don't need criticism, they just need trust from the coaching staff. That's what we try to do.”
Liverpool.com says: If Liverpool follows Lijnders’ advice, then the former assistant won’t be getting his man this summer. In any case, the Reds shouldn’t really be entertaining the idea of selling Clark this summer.
A loan deal shouldn’t be out of the question in order to continue his development, especially since he has missed the summer tour to the United States through injury. If that would appeal to Salzburg, then a year under Lijnders’ guidance could be perfect before making a play for a permanent spot in Arne Slot’s squad.
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