Liverpool star faces HUGE transfer dilemma

If it wasn’t for a couple of unfortunate injuries, Liverpool’s Stefan Bajcetic could be a regular in Arne Slot’s first-team squad and competing for Ryan Gravenberch’s place at the base of the midfield.

The 20-year-old Spaniard was flying high in Jurgen Klopp’s side in 2023, but an adductor injury suffered in March of that year saw him miss the rest of the season.

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His absence was further prolonged by a calf injury in September 2023 that meant he missed most of Klopp’s final season.

If Bajcetic had stayed fit during those two seasons, it’s not hard to imagine a world where he would be heavily involved in Slot’s side.

Instead, Sporting Director Richard Hughes made the decision to loan Bajcetic out to Red Bull Salzburg to be reunited with former Liverpool coach Pep Lijnders in an attempt to get him back to full fitness while gaining plenty of match experience at a European level.

His time in Austria hasn’t gone fully to plan so far, with fans questioning Lijnders’ tendency to pick Bajectic and another former Liverpool midfielder, Bobby Clark, over other options in his starting lineup.

Now Bajcetic has revealed that there is a clause in his loan deal at Red Bull Salzburg that could see him stay at the club for longer than expected.

Next year’s revamped Club World Cup will feature 32 teams in an extended format that FIFA hopes will prove popular among fans.

The qualification process for the competition has been criticised in places for adding to an already hectic schedule that players are starting to speak out against.

Sometimes nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games,” Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson said earlier this season when asked about the new format, and the addition of extra Champions League group stage games.

“Maybe our opinion doesn’t matter, but everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody’s tired of that.

“It is a matter of sitting down all together and listening to all the parties. We have the media and TV, UEFA and FIFA, Premier League, domestic competitions.

“So many players have spoken already about it, we just need to be listened to,” he added. “If you are tired you cannot compete at a high level. What I want is to give my best in all the games I play. At the moment it doesn’t look like we are close to a solution for football’s sake and for the players’ sake.”

Luckily for Alisson and his teammates who would prefer a rest during the summer, Liverpool won’t be competing at the Club World Cup, but Red Bull Salzburg will be, and so too may Stefan Bajcetic.

Bajcetic’s transfer choice

In a new interview with Marca, Bajcetic revealed that there is a clause in his contract that could see him stay at Red Bull Salzburg to compete in the Club World Cup.

“Being on loan at Salzburg and Liverpool not going to the World Cup, I have the option to choose between returning to Liverpool or playing the World Cup with Salzburg,” Bajcetic said.

However, with his time in Austria not going to plan so far, he may decide to cut his losses and return to Liverpool in order to prioritise playing for Spain at the U21 European Championships next summer.

“If I go back to Liverpool, I have the option to come to the European Championships and that would be something I would really like to do. I missed the Olympics and European Championships last year due to injury, I have never been to a tournament like this with the national team, I am really looking forward to it.”

Either way, it looks like Bajcetic will be busy next summer.

Bajcetic: Salah called me Liverpool’s best player

Bajcetic burst onto the Liverpool scene in the 2022/23 season, becoming the club’s youngest-ever Champions League player when he came on as a substitute against Ajax. He didn’t take long to settle into first-team football, and was praised by Mohamed Salah following a brilliant performance against Everton in the Premier League later that season.

“Since he started playing for us, he has been our best player, maybe, so hopefully, he keeps that confidence and keeps going,” Salah said after the game.

And Bajcetic has been reflecting on that in his recent interview.

“When Salah tells you these things you try not to get carried away. When Klopp or players of that calibre tell you these things, it gives you more confidence to go into training the next day and give more. You try to keep your feet on the ground and continue learning from the best.”

Whatever happens with Bajcetic this season - whether he extends his stay at Red Bull Salzburg or not - it's clear he has the ability to become a key player at Anfield.

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