Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are both interested in signing Liverpool youngster Stefan Bajcetic.
The 18-year-old has burst onto the scene this season, commandeering a spot in Jurgen Kloppâs starting XI. And as per Calciomercato, this had led to interest from his homeland.
Both Barca and Madrid are said to have had their interest piqued by Bajceticâs performances for Liverpool.
Itâs claimed that the Clasico rivals are keeping an eye on the teenager for âfuture reinforcement.â
Bajcetic still a work-in-progress
If Madrid were interested in Bajcetic prior to last nightâs Champions League clash, the youngster wonât have done anything to dissuade that during the game.
He perhaps wasnât at his best at Anfield. One or two loose balls in dangerous areas showed that heâs still very much a work-in-progress.
But still, Bajcetic more than held his own for large parts, too. Liverpoolâs capitulation was nothing to do with him. Yes, he could have done more to stop Luka Modric bursting through for Realâs fifth of the night, but others around him were equally culpable.
Itâs rare to see such a young player turning out on such a night in the Champions League. Doing so in itself isnât necessarily a sign of anything special, but Bajcetic has the look of a player who could be exactly that.
Jordan Henderson certainly seems to think so. The Liverpool captain called his younger teammate âoutstandingâ for his role in Liverpoolâs upturn in form recently. Plenty more praise has come his way, too.
Now though comes an early bump in the road for Bajcetic. How he deals with last nightâs setback on club footballâs biggest stage will say a lot about what to expect from his future.
As of now, that future shouldnât be expected to be anywhere other than at Liverpool.
Being a young man from Spain though, the lure of his countryâs big two may always be a concern to the Reds. If he continues to attract the interest of Barca and Madrid, at least itâll be a sign that heâs doing something right.