Pep Lijnders could have opened up an exciting new pathway for Liverpool youngsters.
After a glorious decade of work with the Reds, most of which was spent expertly assisting Jurgen Klopp, Lijnders has moved on this summer.
The 41-year-old has taken on a really interesting challenge as his second role as a head coach. Lijnders will take charge of RB Salzburg next season.
While it will be strange not to see Lijnders at the AXA Training Centre and at Anfield, his appointment in Austria could yet be of benefit to Liverpool.
Salzburg are well known for developing young talent. And with a link now irrefutably formed between the Red Bull club and Liverpool, it looks like Lijnders may be open to taking some youngsters from the Liverpool academy.
Pep Lijnders looking for Bobby Clark loan
Lijnders has only just started work with Salzburg and he has already been rumoured to be lining up moves for two Liverpool players.
First it was claimed that Conor Bradley is on Lijnders’ wish list, but with Arne Slot keen to use the Northern Irishman, that seems to be a no-go.
Next, goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros was also reported to be a target. With Jaros having pipped Salzburg to the Austrian league title with Sturm Graz last season and the 22-year-old’s future up in the air, that one seems more likely.
Now though, Lijnders is claimed to be setting his sights on a third Liverpool player.
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The Daily Mail report that the Dutch coach could be about to try and make a move to sign midfielder Bobby Clark.
Clark would reportedly be just a loan signing for Lijnders, as he looks to get more game time following a solid season with the Reds.
Salzburg are far from being the only ones after the 19-year-old, though. It’s claimed that there is ‘a lot of interest’ in Clark from across Europe.
Norwich are reportedly on of the clubs in the running, while Salzburg’s sister club RB Leipzig are also named as being keen.
Bobby Clark ready for Liverpool loan
We can understand why a move for Clark would appeal to Lijnders. The former Newcastle youngster looks like a really composed player in the making.
Although injuries restricted him to 12 appearances last season, Clark does look like someone who can be a long-term member of the first-team squad. Joe Cole called Clark ‘fantastic‘ during the season and he looks to have a big future ahead of him.
For Lijnders to be the coach who can propel him to being a regular starter, even just temporarily, would probably mean a lot to Liverpool’s former assistant manager.
It would also allow Clark to learn from a coach he already knows well in a league that will still be forgiving for his youth and inexperience.
On the flip-side of that, it is a big jump from the Austrian Bundesliga to the Premier League. So, perhaps a move to a club like Norwich may benefit Bobby more.