Liverpool have reportedly reached an agreement with Red Bull Salzburg for Stefan Bajcetic despite a late hijack effort from Barcelona.
The talented 19-year-old was rated highly by former manager Jurgen Klopp but new boss Arne Slot is open to sending him out on loan this season.
According to The Athletic, Barcelona made an approach for the Reds midfielder after 17-year-old Marc Bernal ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at the weekend.
Given the financial constraints, the Catalans decided to make a low-cost loan move for Liverpool starlet Stefan Bajcetic, even offering a €4 million fee for his temporary acquisition.
Meanwhile, there was hope that the signing could be closed with Barcelona even calling the player directly while also enlisting the hope of former midfielder Thiago Alcantara to convince him to snub other clubs, including RB Salzburg.
However, Barcelona were unable to finalize a deal with Stefan Bajcetic due to financial fair play issues, leading him to head to Austria for a season-long loan with RB Salzburg.
Romano confirmed that overnight developments made Barcelona to miss out on the capture of Stefan Bajcetic, with the 19-year-old believed to be on his way to RB Salzburg.
Furthermore, David Ornstein also confirmed that RB Salzburg have reached an agreement with Liverpool for the loan signing of Bajcetic despite Barcelona’s late push for his signing.
He confirmed the transfer on his X account, stating: “Red Bull Salzburg reach agreement with Liverpool to sign Stefan Bajcetic. 19yo midfielder joining #Salzburg on loan, no buy option.”
“FCBarcelona made approach but could not close. Set to travel to Austria tomorrow. #LFC get loan fee.”
He will now reunite with former teammate Bobby Clark at Salzburg, but remains a player for the future at Liverpool.
Who is Stefan Bajcetic ?
Bajcetic is a 19-year-old Spanish defensive midfielder who recently joined Salzburg from Premier League club Liverpool.
Stefan Bajcetic’s football career
The 19-year-old’s journey to prominence began at Celta Vigo’s youth academy before joining Liverpool in 2020 for £224,000.
Bajcetic’s rapid progress earned him a new contract in August 2022, followed by his professional debut against AFC Bournemouth.
He made history by becoming Liverpool’s youngest-ever Champions League player, breaking Billy Koumetio’s record.
Despite an adductor injury cutting short his 2022-23 season, Bajcetic returned to training in August 2023. He represented Liverpool in 58 matches, scoring four goals and creating three assists.
His international career
The 19-year-old promising centre-back who is eligible to represent Spain and Serbia internationally has already made his mark in international football.
He won the Lafarge Foot Avenir tournament with Spain U18 in 2021 and debuted for Spain U21s in September 2023, coming on as a substitute in a 6-0 win over Malta.
Bajcetic’s transfer to Salzburg marks an exciting new chapter in his promising career and fans will be hoping to see more impressive performance in his new club.
Barcelona’s financial limitations have resulted in missed opportunities for potential signings, making it a tough task for them to compete for trophies this season.
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