Liverpool could have a big decision to make about Stefan Bajcetic's future following Pep Lijnders' sacking the midfielder enduring mixed fortunes on loan at Red Bull Salzburg
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Stefan Bajcetic of FC Salzburg looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Salzburg at BayArena
Stefan Bajcetic of FC Salzburg looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Salzburg at BayArena
(Image: Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Liverpool could have a difficult decision to make regarding Stefan Bajcetic’s future in January. The 20-year-old joined Red Bull Salzburg on loan back in January, reuniting with former Reds assistant manager Pep Lijnders in the process.
But the Austrians have now sacked the Dutchman ahead of the club’s winter break, potentially leaving Bajcetic’s future with the club uncertain given Lijnders played a big role in bringing him to Salzburg in the first place.
In truth, the Spaniard’s time with the Austrian outfit so far has not quite gone to plan. He has made 18 appearances under Lijnders’ watch, but only eight of them have come from the start.
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Meanwhile, Salzburg have ultimately struggled, leading to Lijnders’ sacking, winning 13 and losing nine of his 29 matches in charge. At the time of his departure, the Red Bulls are fifth in the Bundesliga table - 10 points behind reigning champions and league-leaders Sturm Graz - and also on the verge of a Champions League league phase exit.
Bajcetic also made headlines for the wrong reasons earlier in the season after he was fined and benched after reporting late for a pre-match session ahead of Salzburg’s Champions League clash with Brest because he had misplaced his boots.
The midfielder’s move to Salzburg had been hoped to give him much-needed game, having missed the end of the 2022/23 season and majority of the 2023/24 campaign through injury.
Limited to three appearances under Jurgen Klopp last season as a result, Arne Slot explained Liverpool’s decision to send the Spaniard out on loan back in August.
“I hope it will be a big year for him because he’s a very talented player and I think he could become a very important player for us, but only if he gets playing time now,” he said.
“If you are that young and you’ve been out for so long, the only thing you need is playing time. He could have playing time over here, but we’ve got six or seven very good midfielders, so his playing time here will always be more limited than we expect him to play at Salzburg.
“So for him, and us, we think it’s best for him to play at the moment, instead of maybe playing a few times and then being on the bench for a long time again. It’s very difficult to keep a player fit who’s been out for 15 months when you only play him once in a while.
“So this is for the long term. Again, this club has been smart, in my opinion, in the past for not only looking for the short term, but also the long term. It’s a smart decision, at least in our opinion, to let him go somewhere, where he will hopefully play a lot of games.
“Then for next season, we’ll have a player. If he fulfils his potential, [he] could definitely, definitely play for us in the future.”
Salzburg actually beat Barcelona to Bajcetic’s signing last summer, with Lijnders admitting he was surprised that the midfielder was available on loan andthe Spaniard admitting the Dutchman played a decisive role in his decision to join the Austrian outfit.
Bajcetic has also previously revealed that he has the option to extend his loan move to Salzburg next summer, in order to play in next year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
But he has perhaps not pushed on as hoped, with Slot's wish that he would enjoy a 'big year' remaining unfulfilled as a result.
And with Lijnders having now left the club and the 20-year-old's loan move not quite going to plan to date regardless, it remains to be seen if Liverpool will leave Bajcetic with Salzburg following the Austrian winter break or instead recall him in January as they consider what’s best for his career.