Controversial Stefan Bajcetic deal looks like Richard Hughes' first Liverpool MASTERSTROKE

Stefan Bajcetic is one of Liverpool’s brightest prospects and will spend the rest of the season on loan at RB Salzburg, under the tutelage of former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders.

The 19-year-old arrived at Liverpool from Celta Vigo’s academy in 2021 and has made the most of the opportunities presented to him so far.

Bajcetic was handed his first run in the Liverpool first team by Jürgen Klopp in the 2022/23 season, at one point playing in eight consecutive league games, and he even played the full 90 minutes of Anfield’s Merseyside derby.

Unfortunately, his season came to an early end in March when he picked up an adductor injury that would see him out of action for almost three months.

The midfielder didn’t make another first team appearance until September 2023, when he started against LASK in the Europa League but it would not be long before Bajcetic found himself back injured, this time with a calf problem.

The teenager was limited to only three appearances for Liverpool’s first team last season, making a comeback from injury against Spurs at Anfield in May.

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Bajcetic’s potential

Although his career to this point has been massively hampered by injuries, the Spaniard has shown flashes of brilliance when he has made it onto the pitch for Liverpool.

Bajcetic was highly rated by his former manager Klopp who, in February, said: “He’s a top player. It’s a joy to work with him” as per The Mirror.

Arne Slot even declared that Bajcetic can become a very important player for Liverpool in the future when revealing that the reason for the Spaniard’s loan move to Austria is to ensure he gets regular first team football to continue his development.

The youngster is capable of playing multiple midfield roles as well as being comfortable at centre back and even occasionally being deployed at right-back.

Despite solid performances from Ryan Gravenberch in the holding midfield role at Liverpool this season, the Reds are in need of a long-term option at the base of midfield, and Stefan Bajcetic could be Slot’s answer.

Will a loan move help Bajcetic’s development?

The main problem for Bajcetic’s development has been his lack of playing time, and this is something that will hopefully be resolved at Salzburg if he can remain fit.

RB Salzburg have qualified for the UEFA Champions League and the some of the coaching team there, including Lijnders, Vitor Matos and Andreas Kornmayer, will be familiar with Bajcetic from their time at Liverpool. He will also get to reunite with his former teammate Bobby Clark.

It looks like the perfect environment for him to develop, and an opportunity for Bajcetic to prove himself as an important first team player.

If he can stay fit and find consistent minutes in Salzburg, this loan move could turn into the deal of the summer for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes.

Liverpool’s past loanees

Over the past decade there have been many paths into the Liverpool first team. Players like Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold were bought straight into the first team from the academy and have remained at the club ever since but there is still a pathway for players who are loaned away.

Harvey Elliott and Jarell Quansah are two prime examples of players who developed on loan away from Liverpool but have managed to assert themselves as regular first team players since returning.

Elliott’s loan move to Blackburn in the 2020/21 season saw him play 43 times for the Championship side, and he has been ever-present in Liverpool’s first team squad since, making 53 appearances for the club in all competitions last campaign.

Bajcetic had attracted interest from other top clubs, including Barcelona, but he will spend the season under Lijnders in Austria and he has the chance to emulate the career path of his teammate and force himself into Slot’s first team plans upon his return, potentially saving Liverpool millions in the process.