Kelleher and Bajcetic - Four Liverpool transfers Pep Lijnders could complete as RB Salzburg boss
Lijnders will leave Liverpool alongside Jurgen Klopp this summer and may wish to take a few players from Anfield with him to Austria.
Isaac is the Leeds United reporter for LeedsLive. An NCTJ-qualified journalist, Isaac has interviewed many football icons during his career, including World Cup winners and Premier League champions. He has also sat down with a number of Olympic greats, such as Adam Peaty MBE and Dame Laura Kenny.
Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders will step into his second full-time manager’s role this summer when he becomes boss of Austrian outfit RB Salzburg.
The 41-year-old previously managed Dutch club NEC between January and May of 2018, winning half of his 22 games in charge but getting sacked after failing to earn promotion from the second tier to the Eredivisie.
Lijnders returned to Liverpool that summer and helped them win the Champions League, Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups. He announced in February he was leaving the club along with Jurgen Klopp this summer.
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A handful of Reds players could also be leaving Anfield at the end of this season, some for good while others may be loaned out. Lijnders may fancy taking a few over to Austria with him in his new managerial venture.
Caoimhin Kelleher
Kelleher is likely to leave this summer in search of first-team football and his performances have warranted a move to a club in a top-five European league. However, RB Salzburg are still an attractive option.
They have won the last ten Austrian titles and have consequently qualified for at least the qualifying round of the Champions League each time, the last five occasions reaching the group stage. Kelleher would be first choice at Salzburg but Lijnders would need to do some weighty convincing to see him turn down opportunities elsewhere.
Stefan Bajcetic
Ideally, Liverpool would wish to keep Bajcetic in-house. It was encouraging to see the 19-year-old make his return from serious injury in the 4-2 win over Tottenham but the teenager is lacking game time.
Hopefully, pre-season will offer him the opportunity to build his momentum back up. But if Arne Slot does not see him high up on the list of options in a packed midfield, Bajcetic could be loaned out and RB Salzburg would be a good opportunity for regular game time.
Jayden Danns
It would seem wise for the striker to build on his Liverpool breakthrough by securing a loan next season. Championship clubs would no doubt take an interest but Salzburg and Lijnders may wish to enquire.
A move to Salzburg would mean Danns playing Champions League football. He has the build to combat Austrian Bundesliga defenders too, in what would be a brilliant learning curve for the 18-year-old. He can take inspiration from how Erling Haaland fared during his spell at the club.
Joel Matip
Matip is due to leave Liverpool at the end of his contract so would be a free option with bags of experience. However, his injury problems and on-field contribution output may be a sticking point.
As for the player, it might be one of few opportunities to play in the Champions League again with the defender set to turn 33 in August. He would bring wisdom to a young squad continually in development but an arrival would depend on whether Lijnders wants such an old head as part of his project.