Expert says Celtic are about to sign a ‘Wijnaldum type player’ in January

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Reports that Celtic are set to sign former Liverpool midfielder Bobby Clark from RB Salzburg in January set the headlines alight this week.

We told how Celtic’s interest in Bobby Clark, who has been a long-term Parkhead target, had taken a huge stride forward with a £6m deal said to be completed in January for the 20-year-old midfielder.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers refused to address the reports as the Hoops gaffer wanted to remain fully focused on the away trip to Dens Park to face Dundee.

So to get the lowdown on Clark, 67 Hail Hail decided to contact an expert from Rousing the Kop to get a flavour of what the young midfielder will bring to Paradise should his £6m move be completed in the coming months.

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Bobby Clark was the ‘main man’ in Liverpool’s academy as Celtic rumours swirl

Celtic’s interest in Clark can be traced as far back as August 2024 when the youngster caught the eye of Parkhead scouts while he was in Liverpool’s academy.

And what Rousing the Kop’s Connor Burgess told 67 Hail Hail explains what the youngster was like as he rose through Liverpool’s ranks.

Burgess said, “He was one of the main academy players to get thrown into the team when we had all those injuries in 23/24. He was pretty much the main man in midfield at the academy at the time.

“He did well, to be fair, didn’t impress too much but you could definitely see there was a player there. Best game he had was against Sparta Prague in the Europa where he got a goal and an assist but outside of that he was mostly like a Wijnaldum type player.

“Where he didn’t get too involved going forward but kept the ball well and could play a pass, so it’s a bit hard to pinpoint his preferred role as he was more of an attacking playmaker in the midfield at the academy but kind of acted more like a deep lying midfielder in the first team, he got himself into some advanced positions but you’d mostly find him laying the ball off and letting the others get forward.

“His best performance outside of the Europa game was definitely the Carabao Cup final, I was at that game and he was one of I’d say the only academy players on the pitch where you didn’t wince when he got the ball.”

Rodgers told Bobby Clark will be a ‘really solid signing for Celtic’, Liverpool fans unhappy he left

In terms of where Clark could fit in at Celtic, Burgess was in no doubt that if the Parkhead switch happens, the youngster will be an excellent signing for Rodgers.

Burgess continued, “In terms of his move, I know a lot of fans, myself included, didn’t really understand why he was getting sold. I’d have preferred a loan move for him cause like I said you could tell there’s a player there.

“Don’t think his move to Salzburg is really a true indication of how good he is, he got sold a dream by Ljinders in my opinion and he wasn’t there long, was he?

“I reckon he’ll be a really, really solid signing for Celtic and could be the perfect move for him to show what he can really do.

“I could see him going back to his academy roots in the SPFL depending on what Rodgers wants to do with him.”

Clark is currently on loan at Derby where he has made 11 appearances, scoring one goal. At RB Salzburg, the midfielder made 25 appearances since his £10m move from Liverpool scoring once and creating two.

It seems that if this move does go through, Celtic will have a really promising young player on their hands who could, possibly, be the answer to the Callum McGregor question.