In theory, one of Liverpool’s most promising young talents looks tailor-made for Arne Slot’s system.
The former Feyenoord boss likes the most deep-lying of his midfielders to control the tempo and orchestrate proceedings from in front of the backline.
Hence why Liverpool identified Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad as their number one target, rather than a more aggressive, ball-winning option such as, for example, Joao Palhinha.
Zubimendi is certainly more of a controller than he is a destroyer. But with the Real Sociedad star opting to stay at home in the Basque country, a window of possibility may have opened up for another Spanish schemer in the same mould.
Or, at least, that was the idea in the minds of many Liverpool supporters.
Instead, The Telegraph reports that Stefan Bajcetic is now ‘likely’ to follow Red Bull Salzburg newbie Bobby Clark out of Anfield before the window closes last week.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool ready to sell Stefan Bajcetic
Not so long ago, Bajcetic was being talked about in similar terms of, say, Manchester United’s superstar-in-waiting Kobbie Mainoo. Comparisons were also drawn with a young Xavi.
But with injuries stalling his development – Bajcetic missed almost the entirety of last season with a calf issue – the supremely-gifted 19-year-old may now have fallen behind fellow youngsters Tyler Morton, James McConnell and the ‘fearless’ Trey Nyoni in the Anfield pecking order.
The Andalusian-born teenager moved to Merseyside from Celta Vigo back in 2020.
Celta’s head coach Claudio Giraldez has now swung open the doors for Bajcetic to return, with Liverpool seemingly receptive to permanent bids.
“We will see what happens with the market,” Giraldez told El Desmarque before Friday night’s 3-1 victory over Valencia. “But I am clear that, if we get what we want, we will make a hyper-complete team.
“(Signing Bajcetic) is possible, like everyone else. The market is open and it’s another possibility. He’s a player I know, who knows the club, who we’ve trained. And it’s another possibility.
“We’ll see how it goes. I’ll start thinking about the market between games.”
Bajcetic has three years left on his Liverpool contract. It remains to be seen how much it will cost to lure the silky Spaniard away from the North West, with The Reds having banked £10 million via the sale of Clark this week.
Real Sociedad want Mikel Merino replacement amid Arsenal switch
Interestingly, HITC understands that Arsenal may have helped pave the way for Bajcetic’s departure. Real Sociedad have identified the Spain Under 21 international as a potential replacement for Mikel Merino with their Euro 2024 champion set to complete a £32.6 million move to the Emirates.
HITC have been told that there is also a lot of interest from rival Premier League clubs, with Slot deciding that Bajcetic is free to leave this month.
Bajcetic was not in Liverpool’s squad for last week’s 2-0 win at newly-promoted Ipswich Town. He is likely to be omitted again during Slot’s competitive debut as the new Anfield boss against Brentford this Sunday.
In contrast, there may be a place in the travelling party for Nyoni, the velvet-footed 17-year-old who made such an impression during pre-season.
The former Leicester City starlet is a regular fixture on the Liverpool training pitch these days, being put through his paces alongside Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and co.
“(Selling starlets like Clark) is always a difficult one, as young players want to play. If they want to develop then they have to play. It’s always like this,” Slot told the Liverpool Echo on Friday.
“They come through the ranks of the youth Academy, and either you are good enough to play for many minutes or there is too much competition in your position.
“This team, we still have a lot of homegrown players. And, one of them, (Nyoni) training with us on a daily basis who is only 17.”
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