The Liverpool transfer isn’t as bizarre as it initially appears, once one crucial detail is revealed

Liverpool have surprised fans with a seemingly unusual transfer decision this summer, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that it is a strategic move that makes perfect sense.

Arne Slot is yet to make his first signing as Liverpool manager since joining the club, with Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi rejecting a move to Anfield in favour of staying in Spain.

Instead, Slot has had to handle the departures of Fabio Carvalho, Adrian, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip, with that trend looking set to continue in the coming days.

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On Wednesday evening, it was widely reported that Liverpool had agreed a £10m deal with Red Bull Salzburg for the sale of Bobby Clark, their 19-year-old midfielder. While a 17.5 per cent sell-on clause was inserted into the deal with the Austrian club, some people were left perplexed with the youngster's decision to leave English football.

It's a lot clearer, however, when learning that Pep Lijnders is the manager of Red Bull Salzburg. Jurgen Klopp's former assistant manager at Anfield, Lijnders departed the Reds along with the German in the summer to take up the manager's position in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Lijnders' assistant manager at Red Bull Salzburg, Vitor Matos, was the development coach at Liverpool, working closely with players like Clark to help get them ready for senior football. It seems both former Liverpool coaches were key to getting Clark to central Europe, too, with Champions League football a possibility should they get through their play-off against Dynamo Kiev this month.

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Son of former Newcastle and Fulham midfielder Lee Clark, Bobby made 14 apperances for Liverpool's first team over the course of two seasons. He joined the Reds in 2021 from Newcastle for a fee of £1.5m while just 17-years-old, with Klopp guaranteeing him a pathway to the first team. 

Across those 14 appearances Clark scored once, in the Europa League against Sparta Prague. In doing so, he became the youngest player to score for Liverpool in European competitions. 

Transfermarkt values Clark at just £850k. 

Liverpool are braced for a huge £100m bid for a key first-teamer, while the Reds still retain interest in one Premier League attacker. Maxence Lacroix has been touted to replace Joel Matip, while the Merseysiders are poised to sign a superstar Alisson replacement on bargain deal.

Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher has exclusively told FourFourTwo that his former side overperformed last season – and that no one expects the Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first campaign.