Liverpool youngster Stefan Bajcetic joins RB Salzburg on loan for the rest of the season… as he reunites with former Reds assistant Pep Lijnders

Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic has joined Red Bull Salzburg on loan for the remainder of the season. 

The 19-year-old broke into the first team during the 2022-23 season and impressed as he went on to make 11 appearances. 

However, long term adductor and calf injuries set back his progress and played just once last season. 

Bajcetic will seek to regain full match fitness and regular minutes this season having joined RB Salzburg, who are managed by former Liverpool assistant pep Lijnders. 

Speaking to the Austrian club’s media, the teenager said: ‘I am really happy to be playing for FC Red Bull Salzburg. My aim is to help us celebrate lots of successes together.

The midfielder will be managed by former Reds assistant Pep Lijnders at RB Salzburg

‘I would like to win the league and impress in the Champions League too with my new team. 

‘An important reason for my move is that Salzburg have focused on developing young players for many years – it’s a club with lots of potential.

‘Pep Lijnders, who I know from Liverpool and value, is the perfect coach for that. I am looking forward to it all!’ 

Bajcetic’s move to RB Salzburg doesn’t include an obligation to buy and Liverpool boss Arne Slot believe the youngster can still have an impact at Anfield in the future. 

‘I hope it will be a big year for him because he’s a very talented player because he’s been out for 15 months and I think he could become a very important player for us, only if he gets playing time now,’ Slot said.

‘If you are that young and you’ve been out for so long, the only thing you need is playing time. He could have playing time over here, but we’ve got six or seven very good midfielders, so his playing time here will always be more limited than we expect him to play at Salzburg.

‘So for him, and us, we think it’s the best for him to play at the moment, instead of maybe play a few times and then be on the bench for a long time again. It’s very difficult to keep a player fit who’s been out for 15 months to only play him once in a while.’

Liverpool boss Arne Slot believes Bajcetic can become a vital player for the club in the future

Barcelona reportedly made an effort to hijack the deal for Bajcetic this week, offering a one-year loan spell for £3.3m in order to cover the absence of defensive midfielder Marc Bernal who could be out for the season. 

However, due to the Catalan’s financial issues their talks fell through, which meant RB Salzburg were able to get the deal over the line.