Liverpool set to sell Bajcetic to Celta Vigo as midfield depth thins after Jones departure

Liverpool are poised to sanction a second midfield departure in quick succession, with Stefan Bajcetic on the verge of returning to Celta Vigo as negotiations over personal terms near a final agreement, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The 21-year-old’s imminent exit follows Curtis Jones’s £30 million move to Serie A champions Inter Milan, stripping manager Andoni Iraola of two rotational options in central midfield before the new domestic and European campaign gets underway.

Bajcetic has a natural connection to Galicia — Liverpool originally signed him from Celta Vigo’s youth academy in December 2020 for a modest fee. Developed into a deep-lying midfielder under Jürgen Klopp, he enjoyed a promising 2022/23 campaign before a series of growth-related injuries derailed his progress, limiting him to just three senior appearances in 2023/24. Loan spells at Red Bull Salzburg and Las Palmas followed, and a permanent return to his hometown club now appears the logical next step for a player looking to rebuild his career.

For Liverpool, the optics are less straightforward. Behind an established trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai, the midfield bench is looking conspicuously light. With Szoboszlai and Gravenberch both inclined to push forward in possession, the absence of a defensively-minded cover option has raised concerns among supporters about the squad’s balance ahead of a demanding schedule.

Fan anxiety has grown noticeably since the Jones deal was confirmed, and allowing Bajcetic to leave without securing a replacement in kind risks compounding that unease. Whether Iraola and the Liverpool recruitment team move to address the gap before the window closes remains to be seen.