Stefan Bajcetic sends message to Arne Slot as Liverpool youngster impresses against Barcelona

Liverpool are likely to be busy this summer as they aim to address several areas of the squad.

The Reds have coped brilliantly during 2024/25, but having done little business over the past 18 months, they are in need of a refresh.

One area which has already been targeted for renewal by Arne Slot is in central midfield.

Slot tried to sign Martin Zubimendi last year and it’s clear that the Liverpool head coach would ideally like another option to rotate with Ryan Gravenberch.

As they look at the market, though, Liverpool would be foolish to forget on-loan midfielder Stefan Bajcetic.

Facing Barcelona on Saturday with new loan club Las Palmas, Bajcetic sent out a new message to Slot that he is once again ready to be a genuine option for Liverpool.

Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images

Stefan Bajcetic impresses against Barcelona

With Slot in need of a new midfielder, plenty of supporters had been surprised to see Bajcetic head on-loan to RB Salzburg last August.

It said everything that the club felt the need to put out an explanation from the Dutch coach. Speaking via liverpoolfc.com, Slot called Bajcetic a ‘very talented’ player and predicted that he could still be a first-teamer at Anfield in the future.

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After struggling to make an impression at Salzburg, that feeling may have dissipated. But Bajcetic has started well at Las Palmas and underlined that against Barcelona on Saturday.

Although his team fell to a 2-0 loss against the Catalan giants, Bajcetic stood up well to Pedri and Spain U21 teammate Marc Casado in the Barca midfield.

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Featuring for 86 minutes, the Liverpool youngster completed 13 out of 18 passes, won two out of five tackles and eight of 15 duels.

As per football data site Fotmob, Bajcetic ended with a positive rating of 7.1, the highest of any Las Palmas player.

No better option than Bajcetic for Liverpool

With Slot not keen on trusting Wataru Endo to start in the Premier League, it has become increasingly clear of late that Gravenberch needs some help.

Gravenberch has been brilliant this season and should rightfully be first choice once again in 2025/26.

Accurate Passes Chances Created Shots (on target) Touches Passes into Final Third Aerial Duels Won Stefan Bajcetic vs Barcelona 13/18 1 1/(1) 41 2 2/2

But Liverpool need a rotational option for the Dutchman and while there are plenty of interesting players out there on the market, few are likely to be better than Bajcetic.

The Reds do not need to spend big on a starting midfielder such as Zubimendi. Any new signing is going to be playing second fiddle to Gravenberch.

But instead of bringing in someone who will need a settling in period, they are better off handing Bajcetic the keys and allowing him to develop as a well-used back-up.

If he can do it against Barcelona, he can do it against the best the Premier League has to offer, too.

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