Transfer Centre

Liverpool to offer Stefan Bajcetic improved new contract?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 26 January 2023

Liverpool reportedly want to reward 18-year-old midfielder Stefan Bajcetic with a new-and-improved contract amid his breakthrough season.

Liverpool are reportedly planning to reward 18-year-old midfielder Stefan Bajcetic with an improved new contract amid his recent rise.

The Spanish youth international is enjoying a breakthrough season under Jurgen Klopp and has 10 first-team appearances to his name in the 2022-23 season across all tournaments.

Bajcetic scored his first goal for the Reds in a 3-1 triumph over Aston Villa on Boxing Day, and he earned high praise for his performance in their FA Cup third-round replay win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on January 17.

With Fabinho struggling to replicate his previous form this season, Bajcetic was again given the nod in the number six role for the weekend's clash with Chelsea, which marked his first Premier League start.

The teenager played 82 minutes of that goalless stalemate at Anfield, and his contract with the Merseyside giants is due to run until the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

Stefan Bajcetic scores for Liverpool against Aston Villa on December 26, 2022 © Reuters

According to the Daily Mail, Bajcetic's performances will lead to a new-and-improved deal for the youngster, whom Klopp views as an integral part of the club's future.

The report adds that Klopp can envisage Bajcetic following a similar path of progress to that of fellow academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold, and at this stage there is nothing to suggest that the Spaniard will not commit to fresh terms.

Bajcetic previously represented Celta Vigo at youth level before moving to Liverpool in January 2021, and he has earned three caps at international level for Spain's Under-18s.

The midfielder was also named in Liverpool's Champions League squad for the 2022-23 group stage, and he made three appearances off the bench against Ajax (twice) and Napoli.

Following Saturday's goalless stalemate with Chelsea - a clash that was largely devoid of quality - Klopp hailed the "exceptional" performance of Bajcetic on his maiden Premier League start.

Stefan Bajcetic in action for Liverpool in July 2021 © Reuters

"There are not a lot of good things in the situation we are in, but obviously that opens doors and gaps and situations for young players," Klopp explained.

"It is obviously one of the rare positive things, especially Stefan. There was a door, I'm not even sure it was open, but he ran through it and he was exceptional. He does really well in the moment, I think that's clear.

"We have to be a bit careful with him of course, he's really young. He had a yellow card and I don't even know [if] it was his fault, to be 100 per cent honest, but he got a yellow card, so of course he got tired, but [he] was still really good in the game.

"Each player when he gets tired and is on a yellow card is a risk, and we didn't want to take that. But, no, he is doing really well."

Bajcetic could make his third successive start for Liverpool when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion in their FA Cup fourth-round clash at the Amex Stadium on Sunday lunchtime.

The Spaniard was not in the squad for the Reds' 3-0 Premier League loss to Roberto De Zerbi's side on January 14, where Solly March's brace and Danny Welbeck's effort put Liverpool to the sword.