Times exclusive links Bobby Clark to Celtic in £6m deal January deal | OneFootball

Journalist Martin Hardy writing in The Times has an exclusive linking Celtic with the January purchase of RB Salzburg midfielder in a £6 million deal…

Lewis Dobbin of Preston North End competes with Bobby Clark of Derby County during the Championship match at Pride Park on September 20, 2025. (Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts/Getty Images)

If this is indeed the case it demonstrates that Celtic Executives are learning the lessons from the summertime shambles by looking to get their business done early on in the January transfer window.

Bobby Clark, whose dad is the former Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark, is currently on loan at Derby County but The Times claims he will be heading to Celtic in January.

The 20 year-old joined RB Salzburg in a £10m deal from Liverpool in the summer 2024 transfer window. He made his Premier League debut for the Anfield club against Bournemouth as a 17 year old and also featured in the Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea as Jurgen Klopp gave his exciting youngsters their chance and they certainly grabbed it.

Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool, interacts with Bobby Clark of Liverpool after the team’s victory in the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on February 28, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Clark’s youth career included time at Birmingham City’s academy (while his father was there), then he moved to Newcastle United’s academy. In August 2021 he transferred from Newcastle to Liverpool, in a deal reported to be around £1.5 million including add-ons.

At Liverpool, he progressed through the youth sides. In the Under-18s he had a strong season in 2021-22, scoring 13 goals in 23 league appearances.

He made his senior debut for Liverpool in August 2022, as a substitute in the 9-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth. He also made his first start later that year, in a Carabao Cup match versus Derby County.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammates Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Bobby Clark during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and AC Sparta Praha at Anfield on March 14, 2024. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

In February 2024, as mentioned above, he featured off the bench in the Carabao Cup final, which Liverpool won, beating Chelsea at Wembley. He scored his first goal for Liverpool in the Europa League in March 2024, in a 6-1 win over Sparta Prague, becoming Liverpool’s youngest scorer in European competition at that time.

In August 2024 Clark made a permanent move to Red Bull Salzburg on a five-year contract. The fee was about £10 million, plus there was a 17.5% sell-on clause included for Liverpool. There he linked up with Pepijn Lijnders, a former Liverpool assistant who had already moved to Salzburg.

During his first season (2024-25) at Salzburg he made around 25 appearances in all competitions, including some in the UEFA Champions League. However, after a managerial change (Lijnders was replaced by Thomas Letsch) his playing time was more limited, especially later in the season.

Bobby Clark of Liverpool during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on February 28, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

In August 2025 Clark moved back to England on a season-long loan to Derby County from Salzburg.

However that may well be cut short because according to a Times exclusive this morning, Bobby Clark is being linked with a £6 million transfer to Celtic in the January window. If that move went through, it would be a permanent transfer from RB Salzburg, despite him being on loan at Derby at present.

Celtic would seemingly see him as a player who could contribute immediately to the midfield area which has yet to consistently impress in what has been a stuttering campaign to date in the Celtic engine room.

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, signed copies by Danny McGrain available!

Don’t miss the chance to purchase the late, great Celtic historian David Potter’s final book. All remaining copies have been signed by the legendary Celtic captain  Danny McGrain PLUS you’ll also receive a FREE copy of David Potter’s Willie Fernie biography – Putting on the Style, and you’ll only be charged for postage on one book.  Order from Celtic Star Books HERE.

Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

More Stories / Latest News

Times exclusive links Bobby Clark to Celtic in £6m deal January deal

Oct 16 2025, 13:11

Post-Celtic struggles for Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah

Oct 16 2025, 11:56

Jimmy Thelin could soon be managing Benjamin Nygren and Carl Starfelt

Oct 16 2025, 11:10