Liverpool Faces Midfield Crisis Amid Summer Rebuild

Liverpool’s summer rebuild has been bold, aggressive and, in wide areas at least, relentless. But as the club chases new wingers and reshapes its defence, Andoni Iraola is staring at a problem right through the middle of his team.

Two of his central midfielders are edging towards the exit. No replacements are lined up.

Wings and defence reshaped

Liverpool’s recruitment drive has been focused high up the pitch. The club are pushing to sign both Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG, deals that would follow the capture of Victor Munoz and leave Iraola with three new wide forwards in a single window.

At the back, the refresh has already taken shape. Jeremy Jacquet, outstanding in the final pre-season friendly against Como on Sunday, has checked in, while Ronald Araujo has arrived on loan to add authority and range to the back line.

The picture in midfield is very different. For now, there are no plans to bring anyone in. That stance looks increasingly risky.

Because Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic are both moving towards the door.

Bajcetic talks with Getafe gather pace

On Monday, Fabrizio Romano reported that Getafe have opened talks with Liverpool to sign 21-year-old Stefan Bajcetic. The “formula” of the deal is still being discussed, with no clarity yet on whether the move would be a loan or a permanent transfer.

The player’s stance is clear enough. Last month, Matteo Moretto revealed that Bajcetic is open to returning to Spain if Liverpool decide to let him go. He is admired by Iraola, and has interest from multiple LaLiga clubs, including Rayo Vallecano and Getafe.

The plan then was simple: Iraola wanted to keep him around pre-season, assess him closely, and then make a call. If Bajcetic stayed, he would renew his contract. If not, he would seek a move back to Spain.

That decision point has now arrived. His current deal runs out next summer, which complicates any loan. Liverpool would have to secure an extension before sanctioning a temporary switch, otherwise a straight sale to Getafe becomes the logical route.

Either way, one more body could soon disappear from Iraola’s midfield group.

Jones closing in on Inter switch

Curtis Jones, meanwhile, looks increasingly likely to swap Anfield for San Siro.

The midfielder wants to leave his boyhood club and join Serie A champions Inter Milan, and two major stumbling blocks were removed over the weekend.

Liverpool have lowered their asking price from £34m to £30m, a figure much closer to Inter’s reach after the Italians previously tabled a £26m offer. Inter are expected to come back with an improved bid.

At the same time, Inter needed to clear space in their own midfield. That box has been ticked: Davide Frattesi has been loaned to Lazio, with an option to buy included in the deal. With Frattesi out, the path is open for Inter to push ahead for Jones.

If Liverpool accept, Iraola loses another central option – and this one is homegrown, versatile, and schooled in the club’s demands.

A thin core for a heavy season

Should both Jones and Bajcetic depart, Liverpool’s midfield will be stripped back to five senior options: Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Trey Nyoni.

On paper, that quintet offers variety – control from Mac Allister, dynamism from Szoboszlai, potential from Gravenberch, experience and balance from Endo, promise from Nyoni.

But Liverpool are not planning for a quiet season. The club expect to compete for trophies on four fronts. League, Europe, domestic cups – the schedule will bite, as it always does.

Two injuries, a suspension, a loss of form, and suddenly Iraola is asking the same legs to go again every three days. The squad starts to creak. Rotations become compromises rather than choices.

Liverpool have moved decisively out wide and at the back. If Jones and Bajcetic both walk away, the real question becomes unavoidable: can a team with this much on its plate really afford to go into the season one injury away from a midfield crisis?