How Jurgen Klopp can rescue Stefan Bajcetic's failing loan move
Liverpool are enjoying an excellent start to the season under Arne Slot, but the same cannot be said to one of their on-loan stars.
The Reds currently sit top of the Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have won their opening two matches in the new ‘league phase’ of the UEFA Champions League.
The season isn’t going as smoothly however for Liverpool loanee Stefan Bajcetic, who is spending the season at Red Bull Salzburg under the management of former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders.
Lijnders is having a tough time at Salzburg, who have been disappointing so far this season, and things aren’t much better for Bajcetic.
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How is Bajcetic getting on at RB Salzburg?
Bajcetic has featured heavily for Salzburg despite their poor form, and the 19-year-old completed his first full 90 for the club in their recent 5-0 defeat to title rivals Sturm Graz.
Although the youngster has featured a lot on the pitch, his performances haven’t been quite up to scratch and the Liverpool academy product has also been in some trouble off the pitch.
Despite only being at the club for a couple of months, Bajcetic has already been fined for being late to training and this, combined with sub-par on the pitch performances, has led some Salzburg teammates to question why the midfielder remains in the starting XI.
What could Klopp’s appointment mean for Bajcetic?
The announcement of Jurgen Klopp as Red Bull’s new global head of soccer could be the boost that Bajcetic needs to kick-start his loan move in Austria.
Klopp won't be involved in the day-to-day football operations of the Red Bull clubs, but it will be reassuring for Bajcetic to have another familiar face involved in his development.
Klopp gave Bajcetic his Liverpool debut, and the midfielder played a total of 22 times for the Reds’ iconic manager.
Bajcetic already has a few familiar faces with him in Salzburg, with former Red Bobby Clark at the club as well as Lijnders, Vitor Matos and Andreas Kornmayer on the coaching staff, who all know Bajcetic from his time at Anfield.
Whether it is under Lijnders or another head coach, Liverpool will be hoping that the appointment of Klopp will be a positive for Bajcetic’s development as the youngster will need to improve his performances if he wants to challenge for a spot at Anfield upon his return.