Pep Lijnders wants to 'immediately' take Liverpool player with him to new club

It’s not just Jürgen Klopp who bid farewell to Liverpool on Sunday. The German’s backroom staff will be joining him exiting Anfield, including assistant Pep Lijnders — although he won’t be taking much time away from football.

The Dutchman won’t be staying to join Arne Slot’s new team, but his next step after Liverpool has already been confirmed. Lijnders will become Red Bull Salzburg’s new manager, with the 41-year-old set to take over in Austria this summer.

Liverpool will no doubt keep a close eye on his progress in Europe. Should Lijnders succeed in his next job, he could well prove to be an option as a future manager of the Reds.

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Not only that, but Salzburg may now be a viable option for players to head out on loan, considering Liverpool will know exactly what style of football any youngsters might be heading into.

That’s an idea that Lijnders would appear to be very keen on. In fact, the former Liverpool coach wouldn’t mind taking one of the club’s younger players off their hands permanently.

Lijnders was full of praise for Conor Bradley when speaking to Redmen TV about his work with the Reds’ youngsters. He concedes though that he doesn’t stand much chance of taking the Northern Ireland international off his old club’s hands.

"I believed really in Conor Bradley, and Jarell [Quansah] and Caoimhín Kelleher, and Harvey Elliott, and Curtis [Jones],” Lijnders said. “But Conor, what is he doing here? Conor Bradley? What did he do?

"We have a new right defender, you don't need to buy anyone. He can come to Salzburg immediately by the way. I have [my eye on] a lot — but I don't have the money."

Liverpool.com says: Nice try Pep, but there’s no way Liverpool is letting Bradley go now! The 20-year-old has been a real standout this season, and looks set to become Trent Alexander-Arnold’s deputy at right-back, if not the permanent fixture there should Alexander-Arnold move into midfield.

Lijnders and Salzburg though will be a good option for Liverpool’s youngsters to gain some first-team experience going forward. Don’t be at all surprised if we see the two clubs doing some business soon.