Stefan Bajcetic is now seen as “more likely” to leave Liverpool this summer, potentially on loan, rather than remain as a part of Arne Slot’s first-team squad.
Initially expected to secure a regular spot under Liverpool’s new head coach, Bajcetic has instead found himself among a group of players linked with possible exits. The club is reportedly open to sending the young midfielder out on a season-long loan, with Slot acknowledging after early training sessions that Bajcetic “needs game time to grow even further.”
Having missed much of the past year due to persistent fitness problems, it’s evident that Bajcetic needs time to regain his form. Although he has continued to train with the first team—unlike others such as Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon, who have returned to the U21s—it appears increasingly likely that the 19-year-old will depart before the transfer window closes next Friday.
Chris Bascombe of The Telegraph reports this, disappointing those who had hoped Bajcetic might help Liverpool avoid significant spending this season. His former club, Celta Vigo, has already shown some interest, and Bajcetic is unlikely to be short of options. Last month, Gregg Evans of The Athletic noted that “plenty of clubs” were monitoring him.
Liverpool, however, will be careful in selecting the right club if they do decide to send Bajcetic out on loan, as he remains part of their long-term plans. While a return to Spain might be tempting, it may not be the best fit stylistically, with a move to another Premier League team likely seen as a more suitable option.
Earlier in the summer, after Liverpool’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Preston, Slot commented on Bajcetic’s situation in an interview with LFCTV. He noted, “You have to consider that Stefan was out for a year, almost one-and-a-half years. When a young player misses that much time, they need to be given time to recover.”
Slot added that while Bajcetic showed some positive moments in training, there were also instances where he was caught out due to reacting too slowly, which is expected after such a long absence. “He needs rhythm, he needs game time to grow even further,” Slot concluded.
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