Rangers 'want' ex-Liverpool star with 'bags of talent' and once dubbed 'new Gazza'

01/30/2025 04:30 AM

Rangers had their fair share of loans from Liverpool when Steven Gerrard was in Glasgow.

The Reds legend utilised his connections with the Premier League giants to bring in a few players, most notably Ryan Kent but also the likes of Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo.

There were varying degrees of success with Kent doing enough to persuade Gerrard to make it permanent for £7million and becoming a fan favourite for most of his Ibrox stay.

Last summer though, a few years on from the Gerrard era, they tried and failed to keep that link-up going.

Rangers were interested in taking then-Liverpool midfielder Bobby Clark on loan but there was fierce competition from several club.

The Anfield club were keen to get him tied down to a new contract before sending him out on loan, but he actually ended up making a permanent move to RB Salzburg for £9.75million (DaveOCKOP).

That was influenced by ex-Reds coach Pep Lijnders being the manager there. But Clark could be on the move again.

Rangers haven’t had an active January transfer window so far, so fans will be pleased to hear a concrete link.

Gers have so far having only signed Rafael Fernandes to help shore up the centre half area, but he has not yet been ready to play.

• READ MORE:Premier League side backed to get transfer for Rangers ace over the line but it 'wouldn't be cheap'

Rangers in the mix for ex-Liverpool kid Bobby Clark

The season is not going according to plan so far for Salzburg, and they sit fifth in the Austrian Bundesliga, lowly by their standards.

Clark has featured 19 times and has one goal and one assist to his name. Lijnders has now been sacked though and the 19-year-old could be heading back to the UK.

DaveOCKOP is reporting Rangers are one of the clubs interested in striking a loan deal but English Championship trio Swansea City, Derby County and Hull City are ready to rival them.

It is not yet clear whether the Austrians are ready to sanction a temporary exit for the teenager but those four clubs would hope they can be persuaded.

Clark has played in the Champions League this season but WOULD be able to be registered for the Europa League knockout games if Rangers brought him in.

Clark was once dubbed ‘new Gazza’

Clark came through the academies of Birmingham and Newcastle and was wanted by a host of big clubs while at the latter, opting for Liverpool.

At the time, the Newcastle Chronicle’s chief Newcastle United reporter Lee Ryder told the Liverpool ECHO: “Bobby was Newcastle’s most promising youngster.

“He is a really exciting player with bags of skill and talent. He could have lit up the stage at St James’ Park but now he has gone to Liverpool and that is a real kick in the teeth.

“Tottenham were in for him, Bayern Munich were at one point, and I heard a host of other top clubs around the continent knew about him – but he decided to go to Liverpool.

“Liverpool are one of the biggest clubs in the world, so why wouldn’t he go there?”

He was a player who earned the trust of Jurgen Klopp while at Anfield as the German handed him his debut against Luton Town.

And afterwards he said: "The boys are ready and I wouldn't do that if they weren't ready. I wouldn't bring Bobby [Clark] on if he wasn't.

"It looked a bit like Luton were done so we trust them [young players] a lot just with what they do."

The publication also labelled Clark ‘the new Gazza’ at the time.