Liverpool confirm £10m departure of teenage midfielder

Liverpool have confirmed the departure of 19-year-old midfielder Bobby Clark, who has joined Red Bull Salzburg on a permanent transfer.

Clark joined from the Newcastle United academy in 2021 and ended up making 14 appearances for the senior side, including an outing off the bench in last season's famous Carabao Cup final triumph over Chelsea.

He has now decided to depart and has inked a deal with Austrian side Salzburg, managed by Jurgen Klopp's former assistant Pep Lijnders.

"After an incredible 3 years at Liverpool, I've decided it's time for a new challenge," he posted on social media. "I've learned so much during my time at the club and am very thankful for the opportunities and experiences I've had. Thank you to all the fans who supported me on this journey."

Paul Joyce confirms the deal is worth up to £10m for Liverpool, who have also retained a 17.5% sell-on clause and the right to match any future bid for the midfielder.

Reflecting on his move to Salzburg, Clark told club media: "I am very happy about this career move and can hardly wait to be on the pitch with my new teammates. For me, this is the perfect step to the perfect club.

"At Liverpool, I saw which players were developed here in Salzburg, such as Sadio Mane and Dominik Szoboszlai, who were a great inspiration to me. And you know what opportunities young players have here. Pep Lijnders, who I know from Liverpool and who is the coach here, also influenced my decision."

Liverpool's willingness to cash in on a number of young talents has attracted some frustration from fans this summer, with Clark following Fabio Carvalho out the door and Sepp van den Berg also closing in on a £30m move away from Anfield.

Sources have confirmed to 90min, however, that this summer's sales were planned as part of an academy reset, with the club's new hierarchy believing changes are needed at youth level.

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