Bajčetić's loan spell with Las Palmas ends this summer.
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As a relatively unchallenged Liverpool has run to the Premier League title, Stefan Bajcetic’s name has barely been mentioned.
That’s because the midfielder has spent the 2024/25 season out on loan, the first half at Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga and the second with Las Palmas in Spain’s La Liga. His Canary Islands sojourn is poised to finish at the close of June, when his future as a Reds player or not will become easier to read.
So, is welcoming the 20-year-old back into the fold a good idea for Liverpool?
Liverpool’s spending appears to be on the up. After a relatively quiet transfer window last summer, Jeremie Frimpong is arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth around €35 million ($39 million) to €40 million ($45 million). Another speedy full-back, Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, is reportedly next on the list. And there will surely be more arrivals.
The Anfield club has shown a willingness to offer steep money for central midfielders of the right profile before—failed pursuits for Martin Zubimendi and Moisés Caicedo, to mention a couple. Yet, should Liverpool sell and invest very heavily in the squad this time around, it may look to save more on the central positions, which are already strong.
Indeed, the ownership, Fenway Sports Group, has put money into Liverpool, but it’s often been cautious and long-termist. Bajcetic is a player for whom the hierarchy still likely has high hopes, and his reintegration for Liverpool’s next preseason tour in Asia wouldn’t be a surprise. He wouldn’t command a transfer fee, and he’s ready to compete, too.
Despite collecting a 20th league title, Slot's Liverpool—not content to stand still—could soon look ... More very different.
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Although the Spaniard’s stay in Salzburg didn’t work out, and he’s been part of a relegated Las Palmas—whose Oli McBurnie and Fabio Silva are among its jumble of ex-Premier League faces—the general feeling is that Bajčetić’s performances have been sound. Calm on the ball and with an estimated [most interceptions per 90 minutes in La Liga](https://x.com/BenBocsak/status/1914759559907864715) at one point this term, he even stood out versus league champion Barcelona back in February.
Upon the signing, Las Palmas head coach Diego Martínez asked Bajcetic to bring the attitude from the Serbian side of his family (Bajcetic was born in northwestern Spain but holds dual nationality through his father) [and to come with enthusiasm](https://as.com/futbol/primera/bajcetic-martinez-me-pide-que-saque-mi-lado-mas-serbio-n/) (Spanish). Ultimately, they have lost the fight, but it’s a team sport, and therefore difficult to judge individuals’ abilities when they form part of a side that frequently gets beaten.
And the Island team, which likes to get the ball down and play, is a good place for starlets to develop. Also part of the Las Palmas squad, another 20-year-old midfielder in Dário Essugo, on loan from Sporting, is heading to Chelsea for €22 million ($25 million) over the next few weeks. Amidst the uncertainty, Chelsea has spotted a talent.
As for Liverpool, it will potentially reintroduce a player who is better for having more game time under his belt, hardened after experiencing a relegation scrap, and now much sturdier physically. His defensive actions could also be valuable, given the early signs of Liverpool’s full-backs pushing higher up the field next campaign, while his neatness in the build-up may please Reds coach Arne Slot.
If Bajcetic—who previously showed glimpses of real talent in a Liverpool jersey—is willing to fight for his chance in an already successful squad, it could be the right move at the right time for both parties.