Liverpool youngster Stejan Bajcetic has made 24 appearances in total this season for Red Bull Salzburg and now UD Las Palmas on loan.
Liverpool and Salzburg agreed to terminate Bajcetic’s loan in January, allowing him to head to Spain for the rest of the season.
Decision-makers at Anfield were happy with the amount of minutes Bajcetic was receiving in Austria, but the player himself was keen to move on following Pep Lijnders being sacked as manager of Salzburg.
Bajcetic came through at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and Lijnders, a young midfielder whose progress has been set-back by injuries.
However, following a full-season of football out on loan, Liverpool supporters are now excited to see the 20-year-old back in red next term.
Liverpool fans think Arne Slot should try Stefan Bajcetic in a new position
Predominantly for Las Palmas so far, Bajcetic has featured as a defensive midfielder, the role he often played at Liverpool under Klopp.
But following a red for Las Palmas defender Scott McKenna in last Friday’s 1-1 draw with Real Valladolid in La Liga, Bajcetic was asked to play as a centre-back, a role he hasn’t otherwise played this season.
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And in those minutes Bajcetic did impress, leading Liverpool fans to ponder what the Spaniard might achieve under Arne Slot next season.
Taking to X, one fan wrote: “Slot can mold Bajcetic into a #6. That’s what we need, somebody with an understanding of tempo & the body to challenge for duels consistently.
“We’re loaded to the absolute brim with LCMs. Club requirements > player requirements. Stefan, you are a DM.”
One fan then actually admitted that he didn’t think Slot had plans for Bajcetic – something that needed to change.
They claimed: “What a talent. He’s playing cb in this game. This kid has to get forced into the team even if Slot don’t see space for him.”
Interestingly, in reply to that post, another supporter said they did think Slot saw the Spaniard’s potential.
They replied: “I think Slot sees it, he’s said before Bajcetic can play an important part and we know by now he doesn’t give handouts when it comes to compliments.
“Just needs to keep getting minutes this season hopefully.”
Plenty of fans were recognising that Bajcetic could save Liverpool millions in the summer if he negated the need for another signing, and some even thought he might thrive as a right back.
After watching Bajcetic in a more defensive role for Las Palmas, one fan concluded: “I’m willing to give a shot to Bajcetic as a backup to TAA and Bradley at RB.
“And [as a] extra 6 as a backup to add to Endo, Gravenberch and also Mac Allister who can play as a 6.
“But let’s see how the rest of his loan pans out because I’m erring to the side of Zubimendi than Bajcetic.”
Stefan Bajcetic can suit Liverpool’s new style under Arne Slot
As one fan alludes to, Bajcetic can be Liverpool’s Martin Zubimendi alternative next season, a midfielder who looks increasingly likely to join Arsenal instead.
Slot praised Bajcetic during pre-season last summer, even if he did allude to the midfielder being short of match fitness.
And it does seem reasonable to conclude that the youngster will be in a much better position to convince Slot about his readiness this summer.
Bajcetic has stayed fit and clearly has a ton of ability, as he’s demonstrating in La Liga whilst playing for a side who don’t always enjoy a lot of the ball.
And in Liverpool’s more possession-based approach under Slot, Bajcetic could thrive, even if playing at right-back appears to be something of a stretch.
