Liverpool took another step closer to winning the Premier League this week with a narrow victory over Everton.
The Reds are back on track after a March wobble and look all set to win a 20th top division English title.
Nobody at Anfield will be counting their chickens just yet having been stung too many times in the past, but with the end of the season now fast approaching, focus will slowly be turning towards the transfer market.
Plenty of change is expected for Liverpool, with Arne Slot set to really put his stamp on the team this summer.
The contrast to 12 months ago is likely to be sharp. Having just arrived at the club, Slot and Richard Hughes chose to sit back for much of the window, signing only Federico Chiesa.
They did also try to bring in Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, however. Slot clearly wanted an upgrade in midfield. Fast forward one year, and journalist David Ornstein has explained whether he is still keen on one.
Liverpool not prioritising a new midfielder
The midfield has been on the agenda in the transfer market for Liverpool over most of the past two or three years.
Having not signed a single midfield operator since 2018, the Reds went big in 2023, adding four new players in the market.
The feeling was that one more was needed last year, but after the Zubimendi deal fell through, Liverpool went with what they had. And according to Ornstein, that stance has not shifted much in the time since.
“This doesn’t seem to be a department at the top of their priority list,” says the journalist during a transfer Q&A with readers of The Athletic. “And — if that’s the case — you can understand why.”
“Martin Zubimendi was viewed as a market opportunity and when Liverpool’s pursuit didn’t come to fruition they decided against pivoting to another target; it was he who they wanted.
“That call appears to have been vindicated with Ryan Gravenberch’s outstanding season, Wataru Endo’s contributions, Alexis Mac Allister’s consistency and Curtis Jones shining when called upon.”
Stefan Bajcetic ready to step up
Some supporters will not agree with Ornstein’s take that Liverpool have enough for next season. Slot has clearly pushed the likes of Gravenberch and Mac Allister in particular to the limit. They surely need some help.
However, just because Liverpool do not sign a new player does not mean another body will not be added to the squad.
After a promising season out on-loan with RB Salzburg and then Las Palmas, Stefan Bajcetic should be an option next year.
The 20-year-old has regained his match fitness after almost a full 18 months without football and has all the attributes Slot could want in a deep-lying midfielder.
Bajcetic is one of the most promising young midfielders in the game. There is a chance he could even partner Zubimendi in the Spain midfield at some point in the future. So, while Liverpool do need an extra body in midfield for 2025/26, it’s true that they do not need to make a signing. Bajcetic is ready.
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