Latest news with #Bajcetic
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Defensive Monster' Set to Boost Arne Slot's Liverpool Midfield Next Season
Stefan Bajcetic's Liverpool Future Under Arne Slot: What Next for the Promising Midfielder? As Liverpool enter the post-Klopp era under Premier League-winning manager Arne Slot, much attention has rightly turned to summer signings. But as David Lynch highlights, the future of internal talents like Stefan Bajcetic deserves equal scrutiny. Loan Stints and Lingering Questions David Lynch sets the context early: 'There are a few players already on the books at Anfield who may be able to make more of a telling impact next season than they did in the last. Chief among them really is Stefan Bajcetic.' Advertisement The Spanish midfielder spent last season on loan at RB Salzburg and then Las Palmas. In Austria, he registered six Champions League appearances, but the departure of Pep Lijnders, 'a key ally for Bajcetic,' cut that stint short. At Las Palmas, he made 14 La Liga appearances, with some observers even likening him to Sergio Busquets. 'I don't think you can get much higher praise than that for a defensive midfielder,' said Lynch. Defensive Numbers Impress, But Caveats Remain Analysing his statistics, Lynch described Bajcetic as 'a bit of a defensive monster.' He ranked highly in tackles, interceptions and aerial duels, and Lynch noted, 'He won 59% of his challenges in La Liga and 45.3% of his tackles… quite impressive numbers.' However, Lynch was careful to inject context: 'Las Palmas did get relegated, so there's a lot of chances to do these things… they're coming up against bigger and better opponents.' In short, inflated defensive stats might reflect circumstance as much as ability. Photo: IMAGO Possession Play a Concern Under Slot's System Bajcetic's struggles in possession may pose problems under Arne Slot, who Lynch notes demands 'a bit more patient' and 'careful' football. Compared to Klopp's more direct approach, Slot's style could expose Bajcetic's weaknesses. Advertisement 'There's a lot of red and low percentiles,' Lynch remarked while reviewing Bajcetic's possession stats. He added bluntly, '74.8 pass completion, that is a serious red flag… particularly because it's not under Jurgen Klopp, it's under Arne Slot.' Even Bajcetic's attacking contribution was dismissed: 'Take my word for it, it's very, very much on the low side of things.' Head-to-Head With Wataru Endo Lynch offered a direct comparison with Wataru Endo, noting, 'Bajcetic is doing more defensive things in a worse team, but Endo is still showing up quite well in the defensive numbers even in a Liverpool team that challenged for the title.' Photo: IMAGO When it comes to ball retention and distribution, the gap widens. 'He's passing the ball much, much better… it's an underrated element of Endo's game.' Advertisement Lynch concluded decisively: 'It would be a struggle if Bajcetic were to come into the squad now to directly challenge Endo for that place.' What's Next? Given Endo's intent to stay at Liverpool — 'He wants to stick around… he doesn't want to give up on the dream of staying at Anfield' — and Bajcetic's need for regular minutes, Lynch advocated for another loan: 'The ideal situation is that he goes out on loan for another season.' The most telling line perhaps came when Lynch reflected on Arne Slot's initial decision: 'He was loaned out with such speed by Arne Slot last summer… I think he saw immediately that Bajcetic wasn't ready.' The analysis is as clinical as it is fair. While Stefan Bajcetic remains a player of promise, his immediate future at Liverpool appears uncertain. For now, another loan move seems the best path forward — not a failure, but a necessary step in a long-term journey.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Defensive Monster' Set to Boost Arne Slot's Liverpool Midfield Next Season
Stefan Bajcetic's Liverpool Future Under Arne Slot: What Next for the Promising Midfielder? As Liverpool enter the post-Klopp era under Premier League-winning manager Arne Slot, much attention has rightly turned to summer signings. But as David Lynch highlights, the future of internal talents like Stefan Bajcetic deserves equal scrutiny. Loan Stints and Lingering Questions David Lynch sets the context early: 'There are a few players already on the books at Anfield who may be able to make more of a telling impact next season than they did in the last. Chief among them really is Stefan Bajcetic.' Advertisement The Spanish midfielder spent last season on loan at RB Salzburg and then Las Palmas. In Austria, he registered six Champions League appearances, but the departure of Pep Lijnders, 'a key ally for Bajcetic,' cut that stint short. At Las Palmas, he made 14 La Liga appearances, with some observers even likening him to Sergio Busquets. 'I don't think you can get much higher praise than that for a defensive midfielder,' said Lynch. Defensive Numbers Impress, But Caveats Remain Analysing his statistics, Lynch described Bajcetic as 'a bit of a defensive monster.' He ranked highly in tackles, interceptions and aerial duels, and Lynch noted, 'He won 59% of his challenges in La Liga and 45.3% of his tackles… quite impressive numbers.' However, Lynch was careful to inject context: 'Las Palmas did get relegated, so there's a lot of chances to do these things… they're coming up against bigger and better opponents.' In short, inflated defensive stats might reflect circumstance as much as ability. Photo: IMAGO Possession Play a Concern Under Slot's System Bajcetic's struggles in possession may pose problems under Arne Slot, who Lynch notes demands 'a bit more patient' and 'careful' football. Compared to Klopp's more direct approach, Slot's style could expose Bajcetic's weaknesses. Advertisement 'There's a lot of red and low percentiles,' Lynch remarked while reviewing Bajcetic's possession stats. He added bluntly, '74.8 pass completion, that is a serious red flag… particularly because it's not under Jurgen Klopp, it's under Arne Slot.' Even Bajcetic's attacking contribution was dismissed: 'Take my word for it, it's very, very much on the low side of things.' Head-to-Head With Wataru Endo Lynch offered a direct comparison with Wataru Endo, noting, 'Bajcetic is doing more defensive things in a worse team, but Endo is still showing up quite well in the defensive numbers even in a Liverpool team that challenged for the title.' Photo: IMAGO When it comes to ball retention and distribution, the gap widens. 'He's passing the ball much, much better… it's an underrated element of Endo's game.' Advertisement Lynch concluded decisively: 'It would be a struggle if Bajcetic were to come into the squad now to directly challenge Endo for that place.' What's Next? Given Endo's intent to stay at Liverpool — 'He wants to stick around… he doesn't want to give up on the dream of staying at Anfield' — and Bajcetic's need for regular minutes, Lynch advocated for another loan: 'The ideal situation is that he goes out on loan for another season.' The most telling line perhaps came when Lynch reflected on Arne Slot's initial decision: 'He was loaned out with such speed by Arne Slot last summer… I think he saw immediately that Bajcetic wasn't ready.' The analysis is as clinical as it is fair. While Stefan Bajcetic remains a player of promise, his immediate future at Liverpool appears uncertain. For now, another loan move seems the best path forward — not a failure, but a necessary step in a long-term journey.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Liverpool's loanees: What next for Bajcetic, Doak, Danns and more?
While Liverpool have moved swiftly to add to their squad, there are a number of players already in situ whose futures are unclear. Alongside first-team players such as Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott, others returning from loan moves are waiting to find out the next step in their development. From senior players whose futures surely lie away from Anfield, to those who will be keen to impress during pre-season, and others anxious to take the next step in their development, there are plenty of decisions to be made. The Athletic looked at all of the players returning from loan moves this summer and assessed what the future may hold for them. Age: 20 Loans last season: Red Bull Salzburg, Las Palmas Of the returning loanees, the upcoming pre-season feels the most significant for Bajcetic, who will have the opportunity to force his way into head coach Arne Slot's plans. The central midfielder was a breakout star in 2022-23, during a period of that season when Liverpool were struggling, but injuries hampered his ability to build on it and last season was earmarked as crucial to building senior appearances. Advertisement While Liverpool were happy with the number of minutes he had played until that point, given the injury problems he had overcome, the decision was made to relocate him to Las Palmas. It proved to be the correct decision as he started 12 matches in La Liga, including some impressive displays. All options are on the table for Bajcetic. There will be temporary and permanent transfer interest, but a strong pre-season could see him form part of Slot's midfield unit heading into next season. Playing regularly feels key and if Ryan Gravenberch stays fit, that could limit his opportunities significantly. Age: 19 Loans last season: Middlesbrough Doak's loan was going from strength to strength after he nailed down a regular place in Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough side. His three goals and seven assists in 24 appearances suggested he was developing the end product some observers had questioned. His performances drew interest from, among others, Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town, who both saw bids rejected with Liverpool's valuation much higher than the £15million and £16million offers made in January. The decision was made for Doak to stay put and continue his development, but shortly after the window closed, he suffered a thigh injury which required surgery and ruled him out for the rest of the campaign. It was the second surgery required in as many seasons after he missed a large portion of 2023-24 due to a serious knee injury. If clubs return for Doak this summer – rivals Everton are the latest to be linked – then it may suit Liverpool to cash in. As Fabio Carvalho discovered last summer, even a strong pre-season may not sway Slot's opinion. Age: 22 Loans last season: Blackburn Rovers Another impressive Championship performer, Beck was a consistent starter for Blackburn Rovers, a club Liverpool have strong development links with having had success with Harvey Elliott and Tyler Morton previously. Advertisement Similar to Doak, an injury in February prevented the left-back from building on a strong first half of the campaign. A hamstring injury kept him out for seven Championship games and his return against Portsmouth at the end of March lasted 10 minutes before a recurrence ended his season. The hope from Beck's perspective had been to make an impact in pre-season, especially with the questions surrounding both Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas. He may still get that opportunity, but left-back is an area Liverpool have prioritised addressing this summer — Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez is highly coveted — and it may be time for Beck to seek a permanent switch rather than a temporary one. Age: 19 Loans last season: Stoke City The ideal loan for players involves a settled environment, but Koumas experienced the opposite at Stoke. The forward played under three different permanent managers last season — Steven Schumacher, Narcis Pelach and Mark Robins — and caretaker boss Ryan Shawcross twice, as they battled Championship relegation. Koumas remained a regular starter for the half of the season, but he was used more from the bench by Robins, making 49 appearances overall. He is currently away on international duty with Wales and discussions about the next steps of his development will take place afterwards. There are likely to be plenty of suitors with another loan move sensible, unless, like with other youngsters, a tempting permanent offer arrives. Age: 19 Loans last season: Sunderland Danns was one of the youngsters able to enjoy Liverpool's Premier League title celebration from the team bus. Had things turned out slightly different, he would have been celebrating Sunderland's promotion to the top division. The decision was made to allow him to leave on loan late in the January window. However, a back issue flagged during his medical meant he remained at Liverpool for rehabilitation. Problems with his back had seen him miss a large portion of the first half of the season and he was eventually ruled out for the rest of the campaign. Danns is one of the players who will have an opportunity to impress during pre-season in what could be a tumultuous summer for Liverpool's forward line. Logic dictates that regular game time at senior level would be best for his development and he won't be short of suitors. Age: 21 Loans last season: Dundee United Stephenson took his opportunity to impress in pre-season last summer at right-back. That earned him a move to Dundee United and Stephenson played multiple positions for the Scottish side, although he was predominantly deployed in his natural position, centre midfield. Advertisement He helped them qualify for the Europa Conference League, and while he also finished the campaign injured, he won the club's young player of the season award. Manager Jim Goodwin has spoken about wanting to bring Stephenson, who made 34 appearances, back next season, but competition for his signature would not be surprising. Age: 28 Loans last season: Derby County Phillips' season-long loan at Championship side Derby County saw him establish himself at the heart of the defence around December and he never relinquished that starting role. The 28-year-old battled relegation and turned into a key performer under John Eustace, who was appointed in February, as they survived by finishing 19th. The expectation is that this summer will be the time for Phillips to move on. Eustace made it clear he would like to keep the centre-back following the final game of the season and interest is expected from other Championship clubs. Age: 24 Loans last season: Morecambe Phillips' fellow centre-back from that chaotic 2020-21 campaign spent last season in League Two, but Williams could not prevent Morecambe being relegated to non-League. He was a regular under Derek Adams but, like Phillips, his future lies away from Anfield. It is yet to be determined if that will be another temporary move or a permanent switch. Age: 20 Loans last season: Norwich City, Portsmouth There was once so much hope and expectation for Gordon after his arrival as a 16-year-old from Derby County. Now 20, he is unfortunately becoming a prime example of how development can be halted by injury problems. The winger missed more than 18 months of action between 2021 and 2023 and has been trying to make up for lost time ever since. Given the opportunity to gain first-team experience in the Championship, his spell at Norwich was underwhelming and ended in January. He switched to Portsmouth, where he also failed to make his mark. His combined 327 minutes across 15 Championship appearances were far from ideal and more senior football has to be the priority for the upcoming campaign. Advertisement Age: 21 Loans last season: Wigan Athletic, Kilmarnock The right-back position has been a key topic of conversation in recent weeks following Trent Alexander-Arnold's exit. Liverpool moved quickly to put in place a deal for Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong to challenge Conor Bradley, but in an alternate universe, it would be Ramsay providing that competition. Ramsay has become a forgotten man. He signed from Aberdeen for an initial £4m in 2022, making his two senior appearances that year. Injuries, though, have derailed him. A serious knee injury ruled him out for the rest of 2022-23 and they plagued him during loans at Preston North End and Bolton Wanderers last year. Two disappointing loans have turned into four this season. Ramsay spent the first half of the season on loan at Wigan, making five starts in 12 appearances, before he was recalled and sent to Scottish side Kilmarnock, where he made eight appearances (one start) and played just 128 minutes. The key for the upcoming season is finding a team where he will play consistently, and that's likely to come via a temporary move. Age: 20 Loans last season: Wigan Athletic Continuing the injury theme, it was a stop-start campaign for Chambers, who also joined Wigan last summer. The left-back was a regular until a back injury suffered in October ruled him out until the new year. He returned to Liverpool for rehabilitation, but his loan was not cancelled and he returned to action in March. That was short-lived, however, as his back problems reappeared after two appearances and he was ruled out for the rest of the season. Age: 20 Loans last season: Millwall Fellow left-back Scanlon fared even worse as his three appearances in January at Millwall, after coming back from a long-term injury, led to another injury lay-off. The 20-year-old required hamstring surgery, which ended his season. Age: 22 Loans last season: Gillingham Advertisement Corness was hoping to build on the first team experience he enjoyed on loan at Swiss side Lausanne in 2023-24 when he joined League Two Gillingham in February. The central midfielder featured in the first four games but was then not involved in 10 of the next 13 matchday squads. Alongside disruption caused by a minor injury, Gillingham then went through a managerial change as interim manager John Coleman was replaced in March by Gareth Ainsworth. Corness eventually featured in the final two league games, starting one. Given his age, Corness needs to be playing regular senior football, so Liverpool's decision to release him — confirmed last week — makes sense for all parties. Age: 21 Loans last season: Gillingham Mrozek began the 2024-25 season on loan at Swedish side Brommapojkarna midway through their campaign but managed only five appearances before he dropped to the bench. He moved to non-League side Forest Green Rovers in January and clocked up more minutes, making 11 consecutive league starts – keeping three clean sheets – and impressing club officials, before a groin injury ended his season early. Age: 22 Loans last season: Utsiktens (ongoing) Mrozek's fellow goalkeeper joined Swedish second-tier side Utsiktens three months ago for the beginning of their league season, which runs from March until November, but Liverpool confirmed he was being released last Friday. Age: 22 Loans last season: Shelbourne FC (ongoing) Norris was an unused substitute on four occasions for Liverpool's senior team after being named on the bench against Champions League opponents Girona and PSV as well as Southampton (Carabao Cup) and Plymouth Argyle (FA Cup). The left-back's last senior appearance came in 2021 and he is currently gaining first-team experience with Shelbourne in the League of Ireland. Managed by former Chelsea and Newcastle midfielder Damien Duff, they signed Norris in February, with their season running until November. Therefore, Norris knows where he will be for the next six months and he has been a regular, making 17 appearances so far. (Top photos: Jayden Danns, left, and Stefan Bajcetic; Getty Images)
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool star suffers injury blow as Arne Slot's pre-season plans derailed
Arne Slot is creating his plans for Liverpool's pre-season programme as they bid to retain their Premier League title, but the Dutchman has been dealt an early blow Liverpool star Stefan Bajcetic is facing a race against time to play a part in the Reds' pre-season programme. Bajcetic enjoyed a stunning rise into Liverpool's first-team over the course of the 2022/2023 campaign. The midfielder beame the Reds' youngest-ever player in the Champions League when he replaced Thiago in a game against Ajax. He was then voted their player of the month for January 2023 after a string of impressive performances. A calf injury severely disrupted his second season, with the Spaniard making just three senior appearances. In a bid to reinvigorate his career, Bajcetic was sent out on loan to Red Bull Salzburg, under former Jurgen Klopp assistant Pep Lijnders. That move proved to be disastrous though, with Lijnders sacked and Salzburg cutting short Bajcetic's loan in January. That led to another loan move to Las Palmas, where he became a key player. The 20-year-old made 14 appearances in total for the Canary Islanders, though was unable to save them from relegation to the Segunda División. Along with the disappointment of relegation, Bajcetic also missed their last two games. That was due to a hamstring injury and the Spaniard has now suffered a further blow. Bajcetic has been forced to undergo surgery on the issue, which he picked up during Las Palmas' defeat to Sevilla on 15 May. He has started his rehabilitation after going under the knife, but it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to take part in pre-season. The 20-year-old would have been hoping to be able to fight for a place in Arne Slot's senior squad. Reds boss Slot had been willing to give the academy graduate an opportunity if he was available. Those hopes have now been dashed though, with Bajcetic facing an uphill battle to return to full fitness. The midfielder had been left desperately disappointed with the way his season played out. He penned an emotional message following Las Palmas' relegation from La Liga, insisting he believed they would soon be back. "These are tough days for everyone, but especially for you fans, we have not been able to fulfill the goal of staying in the league you deserve," he wrote in a statement on Instagram. "In four months I have realized the fans this club has and it hurts me a lot that you have failed. I'm sure you'll go back to where this club needs to be. "I'll always be cheering as one more of you. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for all the support and for being there always." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Liverpool Would Be Smart To Recall Stefan Bajcetic From Las Palmas
Bajčetić's loan spell with Las Palmas ends this summer. 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. 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 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 (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.
