Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic has been told he needs to terminate his contract with the Reds to secure a move back to former club Celta Vigo. The 21-year-old has been widely linked with an exit this summer, with his former club emerging as a strong candidate for his signature.
Bajcetic's path from Celta Vigo to Liverpool
Bajcetic progressed through the Celta Vigo youth system before moving to Liverpool in 2020. He made a strong impression under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield but has endured significant injury problems over recent years and is not included in Andoni Iraola's plans this season.
He has had loan stints with Red Bull Salzburg and Las Palmas, and Liverpool are now looking to arrange a permanent departure. Celta Vigo are said to be frontrunners for the midfielder's signature, though he has also been linked to Getafe and a move to Turkey.
Contract cancellation required for the move
There is an obstacle, though, with Bajcetic being requested to walk away from his Liverpool deal, which runs until June 2027. Spanish publication Faro de Vigo reports that his former club want him to cancel his agreement prematurely - similar to what Mohamed Salah did this summer before joining Trabzonspor - to facilitate a return on a free transfer.
Celta Vigo would then place him in their under-21s squad initially as a means of rehabilitating him back to full fitness. Bajcetic would be able to feature for Celta Vigo B in the Spanish football league but be permitted to play for the first team too due to his age.
Liverpool's summer transfer activity
Liverpool have just said farewell to Curtis Jones, who finalised a £30million (€35m) switch to Inter Milan on Friday. However, they remain eager to locate a new club for Bajcetic, who hasn't fulfilled his early potential.
Shifting unwanted squad members remains a key part of Liverpool's transfer strategy for the rest of the summer window, which shuts on September 1. Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola continues to be Liverpool's primary transfer target, while the club have also been pursuing Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh. Brighton have turned down a second offer of £60m for Minteh, holding out for £70m for the former Newcastle player.
