If everyone could enjoy a debut year as successful as Arne Slot’s at newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool, then no transfer would ever again fall into the ‘flop’ category.
Winning the title in your first season at a new club, however, is very much an anomaly.
Add in the fact that Arne Slot replaced one of the most iconic managers in Liverpool’s history in Jurgen Klopp – Anfield’s answer to David Moyes he certainly was not – and it’s fair to say few imagined there would be red ribbons on the Premier League trophy come the end of April.
They say all dynasties must come to an end eventually. And, with Liverpool a staggering 21 points clear of Manchester City with four games remaining, could the 2024/25 campaign go down in the history books as the one where the baton changed hands?
Over in Austria, the struggles of Red Bull Salzburg acts as a painful reminder as to how quickly a dominant force can descend into also-rans. While Pep Guardiola led Man City to four successive Premier League titles, Red Bull Salzburg held the Austrian Bundesliga in a vice-like grip over a decade of unbroken dominance.
That was, however, until Sturm Graz broke their stranglehold last season. One year on, Salzburg are limping along in fourth with Austria Vienna in pole position to claim the crown.
And if Arne Slot’s debut year at Liverpool could hardly have gone more to plan, then the complete opposite is true of Bobby Clark’s maiden year in Austria.
Red Bull Salzburg’s Bobby Clark plan emerges as former Liverpool starlet struggles
Salzburg invested £10 million in the England Under-21 international last summer, making him the third-most expensive signing in their history. To think, the reaction from the Liverpool supporters was one of disappointment when it emerged that Clark – shortly after becoming the youngest European goalscorer in the club’s history – was on his way out the door.
Now, reports from Krone Zeitung claiming that Red Bull Salzburg are set to farm Clark out on loan in the summer speaks volumes about his impact. Or, as is more appropriate, a complete lack of impact.
Clark’s father, former Newcastle United, Fulham and Sunderland midfielder Lee, suggested recently that the ex-Liverpool starlet could return to Britain rather prematurely. A number of UK-based clubs, he said, had made their interest known in rescuing Clark from his Austrian purgatory.
New Salzburg coach Thomas Letsch is clearly not a Bobby Clark fan, meanwhile.
A regular on the team sheet under Pep Lijnders – Jurgen Klopp’s old assistant was the man who lured Clark to Salzburg in the first place – the appointment of Letsch has coincided with his omission from the matchday squad for four straight Bundesliga matchdays.
“I decided on other players,” Letsch said after initially leaving the 20-year-old out of Salzburg’s 2-1 defeat by reigning champions Sturm Graz a fortnight ago, speaking to Salzburg 24.
“I wasn’t satisfied with Bobby’s training week and therefore told him he wasn’t in the squad.”
Salzburg director admits Clark is in a ‘frustrating’ position
Sporting director Rouwen Schroder also indicated that a parting of the ways may be required.
“The situation is unsatisfactory for both sides,” Schroder said. “We need every single player on the [right] path. And then, of course, we’ll put our heads together and look at the direction towards the summer,, what makes sense and what doesn’t.
“This [situation] is certainly frustrating for Bobby.”
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool | 34 | 25 | 7 | 2 | 80 | 32 | 48 | 82 |
| 2 |  ArsenalArsenal | 34 | 18 | 13 | 3 | 63 | 29 | 34 | 67 |
| 3 |  NewcastleNewcastle | 34 | 19 | 5 | 10 | 65 | 44 | 21 | 62 |
| 4 |  Man CityManchester City | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 66 | 43 | 23 | 61 |
Suggestions that Salzburg would prefer to loan Clark out, however, suggest one of two things.
Either, they believe he can still contribute later down the line. Or, Salzburg hope Clark can get his career back on the right track elsewhere while helping the taurine-powered outfit recoup a decent portion of that £10 million investment.
Whatever the reason, this is not how Clark envisaged life at a Salzburg side renowned for turning up-and-coming talent into elite-level operators.
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