Stefan Bajcetic remained on Merseyside after being out on loan last season, but he is yet to feature for Arne Slot so far this campaign.
Liverpool fans would be forgiven if they forgot that Stefan Bajcetic is still technically part of Arne Slot’s squad this season. The Spaniard has not featured even a minute so far this campaign after he remained on Merseyside despite heavy loan interest in the summer.
The 2024/25 campaign was a tale of two halves for Stefan Bajcetic, offering both frustration and redemption away from Merseyside. His season began with a high-profile loan to Red Bull Salzburg, reuniting with former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders. However, the move failed to ignite; Lijnders was eventually dismissed, and Bajcetic struggled for consistent rhythm in Austria, managing a stop-start spell.
A January switch to La Liga side Las Palmas proved to be the reset button he needed. In the Canary Islands, the 20-year-old finally found his footing. Despite the club’s relegation battles, Bajcetic shone individually and become a regular starter.
That’s why it was a surprise when the decision was made for him to remain at Anfield, with squad depth and the sale of Tyler Morton to Lyon being cited as the main reasons.
Cruelly, however, a severe hamstring injury sustained during pre-season has derailed those plans. With the turn of the year rapidly approaching, it also begs the question as to what’s next for the talented 21-year-old.
Reliable Merseyside reporter Lewis Steele, speaking on a Daily Mail Q&A has provided an update, explaining that Bajcetic has been stepping up training but is yet to feature for the u21 side this season:
“This is a question that I get asked all the time,” Steele said.
“He ended up having surgery in the summer and was expected to be back at some point this year, but he just went missing.”
“He has been back on the grass at certain points in the last month, I know that because I saw it with my own eyes a few weeks ago. I think the plan is to maybe get him into the U21s for a bit. When he first broke through he was very good, so I think Liverpool believe he can still hit that level.”
Reds fans will remember how Bajcetic was the shining light in an otherwise depressing 2022/23 season.
If he can get back to that level, Slot will surely be able to rely on him once again.
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