Barcelona have made a surprise move in the transfer market. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Catalans have submitted a loan bid for Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic.
The Spanish giants are keen to bolster their midfield options following an injury to Marc Bernal, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during their win over Rayo Vallecano.
Barca are desperately short of options in the middle, with Frenkie De Jong and Gavi also nursing injury setbacks.
Their loan bid is reportedly worth €4 million and does not include a buy clause. This comes just a day after RB Salzburg made their loan offer for the talented young midfielder.
Bajcetic has found himself surplus to requirements under Liverpool manager Arne Slot and is eager to secure regular first-team football.
Salzburg, led by former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, would have offered him just that. He’d have familiar faces around him, with Alex Matos and Andreas Kornmayer a part of the Dutchman’s coaching staff.
They signed Bobby Clark from Liverpool this summer and wanted to add Bajcetic to the mix. However, Barcelona’s entry into the race could complicate matters.
The Catalan club’s prestige and Champions League football could make them a more attractive destination for the young midfielder.
It remains to be seen whether the Vigo-born star accepts a move to his homeland to Barcelona or joins Salzburg, where they know all about his qualities.
Bajcetic should prioritise wherever he would get game time. The Spaniard was enjoying a breakout campaign during the 2022/23 season before he suffered an adductor injury that ruled him out from March till the middle of last season.
He struggled to get up to speed, and former boss Jurgen Klopp was wise enough not to throw him into the deep waters.
His early performances in the first team were exceptional, and Klopp hailed him as a ‘top player,’ but the injury halted his development.
Now, he needs playing time in his legs. That must be at the top of his mind before he decides his next destination.
