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Bobby Clark of FC Salzburg inspects the pitch prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between FC Salzburg and Paris Saint-Germain at Stadion Salzburg(Image: 2024 UEFA)

Bobby Clark has been left out of the Red Bull Salzburg squad for the FIFA Club World Cup, as uncertainty about the former Liverpool midfielder’s future continues.

The 20-year-old joined the Austrian outfit in a £10m deal last summer as he reunited with former Reds assistant manager Pep Lijnders.

However, the midfielder fell out of favour following Lijnders’ dismissal as manager back in December.



A return to England ultimately did not materialise during the January transfer window, with Clark then struggling for game-time under Thomas Letsch.

He made just six appearances following the German’s appointment, and featured for just 21 minutes across three substitute appearances from mid-February onwards.

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Left out of a number of Salzburg matchday squads by Letsch, his new head coach also criticised the midfielder’s performances in training when explaining his decision.

“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 back in April when speaking to Salzburg 24.

“I wasn’t satisfied with Bobby’s training week and therefore told him he wasn’t in the squad.”

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Clark is expected to move on this summer, with his Salzburg future thrown into further doubt after he was left out of Letsch’s 28-man squad for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

The former Liverpool youngster was not mentioned at all in Salzburg’s statement confirming their squad - though Alex Schlager has been included despite suffering with a wrist injury.

They said: “When we set off for the USA this Friday, 13 June, Thomas Letsch and his coaching team will have 28 Red Bulls on board bound for the FIFA Club World Cup.

“A total of four goalkeepers and 24 outfield players will be there – including new signings, players returned from loan and other returning favourites!

The good news is that Alex Schlager is also in the squad despite his wrist injury.

The Reds included a 17.5% sell-on clause in the deal that took the midfielder to Austria, ensuring they could be in line to benefit if Salzburg sold the midfielder, while they also have matching rights for any future sale down the line.

Admittedly, Salzburg are unlikely to sell Clark for a profit following a disappointing season in Austria, which could cost Liverpool any windfall.

However, if Reds bosses opt to activate their matching rights clause, they could hypothetically re-sign the midfielder in a bid to profit further in the future.

Aston Villa completed two such transfer deals last summer when re-signing Cameron Archer and Jaden Philogene from Sheffield United and Hull City, before selling the pair to Southampton and Ipswich Town respectively for a combined initial fee of £35m.

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Clark has made 25 appearances for Salzburg to date, scoring once.

Starting 13 times, six of his outings came in the Champions League league phase.