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6 hours ago
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Arne Slot is aiming to tweak his Liverpool squad this summer as part of new-look plans for the 2025/26 season.
The Reds finally ticked off the Premier League title on April 27 as they sealed a second EPL crown in five years to cap off a superb debut year for their Dutch coach.
Ahead of the summer transfer market, Slot has cooled rumours of multiple big-name arrivals as he indicated there will not be major changes, and Reds fans are confident the former Feyenoord boss is clear on what he wants.
Mohamed Salah's contract extension is a massive boost for Slot with the Egypt international tied to Merseyside until 2027 alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.
The only outlier in Slot's 'contract rebels' remains Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is reportedly edging closer to a free transfer switch to Real Madrid in June.
Caoimhin Kelleher, Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa are amongst those names Slot is looking at offloading but he also faces calls on a host of returning loan stars.
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Stefan Bajcetic is one of those due back for preseason training, after a mixed campaign out on loan, and Slot could give the Spain U21 international a second chance in his midfield.
Stefan Bajcetic's Liverpool contract, transfer value
Jurgen Klopp signed Bajcetic in December 2020 after he caught the eye of Liverpool scouts in Celta Vigo's youth set up.
Klopp handed him a first-team breakthrough in 2022, and the diminutive playmaker impressed in his midfield, but an adductor injury cut short his 2022/23 campaign.
A fresh injury setback at the start of 2023/24 ended his season before is started and Klopp's exit dealt a further blow to his Liverpool career.
The arrival of Slot changed his position, and the club accepted a season-long loan offer to follow Klopp's former assistant Pep Lijnders to RB Salzburg, with the new boss unconvinced.
However, following Lijnders' sacking at the end of 2024, he moved on to Las Palmas, where he has played a solid role in Gran Canaria.
Bajcetic's current contract at Liverpool runs until 2027, but despite rumours from Spanish outlet Relevo that Villarreal could make another loan offer to Liverpool, Slot is open to bringing him back into the first-team fold.
As per reports from the Daily Mail, Slot and his coaching staff want to take a closer look at Bajcetic in preseason, before making a firm decision, with reports that he is up for sale wide of the mark at this stage.
Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch have been virtually ever-present in Slot's midfield so far this season, but Bajcetic's skillset of calmness and control in midfield could make him an ideal rotation option, if the manager is convinced over his durability to compete in the Premier League.
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