Liverpool Midfield Reshuffle: Bajcetic Returns to Celta Vigo

Liverpool’s midfield reshuffle is gathering pace – and it’s not moving in the direction many supporters expected.

While the noise around Anfield has centred on wide forwards, the real upheaval is happening in the middle of the pitch. Curtis Jones has already gone, joining Inter Milan in a deal worth £30m. Now another midfielder is on his way out, and the club have made a firm call on whether anyone new will come in.

Bajcetic exit agreed

Stefan Bajcetic is set to leave Liverpool and return to Celta Vigo, the club where he began his career.

Respected reporter Matteo Moretto revealed that Liverpool and Celta have reached a club-to-club agreement for a permanent transfer. As translated by AnfieldSector, Moretto told DAZN_ES that the deal is structured heavily in Celta’s favour in the short term.

“Celta and Liverpool have reached an agreement, with the Reds retaining a percentage of any future sale,” he said. The Spanish side will pay virtually nothing up front, with the package made up of bonuses and the sell-on clause. Bajcetic is expected to undergo his Celta medical soon.

The 21-year-old’s time in England has been derailed by injuries. Across the last four years he has managed fewer than 60 appearances, a stop-start spell that never allowed him to build on the early promise he showed under Jürgen Klopp.

With Bajcetic entering the final year of his Liverpool contract, the club have opted to cash in for a nominal fee and protect themselves with that sell-on percentage. If he can stay fit and re-establish himself in La Liga, that clause could yet look shrewd.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano added that personal terms are now close. “Celta Vigo are closing in on personal terms agreement with Stefan Bajcetic to join from Liverpool,” he wrote on X, underlining how advanced the move has become.

Midfield left light – by design

Bajcetic’s departure follows Jones out of the door and leaves Liverpool’s central options looking thin in one key area.

Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Trey Nyoni, Wataru Endo and Bajcetic were the six recognised central midfielders on the books. Only Endo and Bajcetic are naturally defensive-minded, and both have been some way down the pecking order.

With Bajcetic now heading back to Spain, that leaves Endo as the sole specialist holding midfielder. It is the kind of detail that usually sparks a late scramble in the market.

Not this time.

Despite the double exit, Liverpool have decided they will not sign a new midfielder to replace Jones or Bajcetic. The club believe the answer is already in-house.

Earlier this week, TEAMtalk revealed that teenager Trey Nyoni has been promoted to fourth choice in the midfield hierarchy. Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Mac Allister will contest the two starting roles, with Nyoni next in line and Endo behind him.

The Athletic backed up that stance, with James Pearce reporting that senior figures at the club remain fixed on strengthening the wide attacking positions rather than the engine room.

“Despite the clamour for midfield reinforcements, which intensified after Sunday’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Newcastle, senior club sources say Liverpool’s focus remains on bolstering their attacking options out wide,” Pearce wrote. “They don’t intend to replace Jones, as they see teenager Trey Nyoni as ready to step up and play a bigger part this season.

“Unless there’s a change of stance, it’s only the forward line which will be strengthened.”

So Liverpool head into the new campaign betting on youth, versatility and a single specialist holding midfielder, while another of their great midfield hopes tries to restart his story back in Vigo.