Liverpool's Midfield Crisis: Bajcetic and Jones on the Move

Liverpool’s winger spree risks leaving Andoni Iraola exposed in the one area no elite manager wants to feel light: central midfield.

While the club push ahead with plans to land both Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG – having already secured Victor Munoz – the engine room is quietly being stripped back. Defence has been refreshed too, with Jeremy Jacquet impressing in the final pre-season friendly against Como and Ronald Araujo arriving on loan. The flanks and back line are being rebuilt. The middle of the pitch, though, is being hollowed out.

And right now, Liverpool have no intention of signing a new midfielder.

Bajcetic talks gather pace

The first crack appeared on Monday morning. Fabrizio Romano revealed that Getafe have opened talks to sign Stefan Bajcetic, the 21-year-old who once looked like a long-term piece of Liverpool’s midfield puzzle.

“Getafe have opened talks to sign Stefan Bajcetić from Liverpool. Formula being discussed,” Romano posted on X. Whether that “formula” means a loan or a permanent transfer remains unclear.

What is clear is Bajcetic’s stance. Matteo Moretto reported last month that the Spaniard is ready to return home if Liverpool decide to move him on. The journalist detailed how Iraola is a big admirer and had wanted to run the rule over the youngster in pre-season before any final call was made.

“Iraola likes him a lot. Several teams in Spain want him: Rayo Vallecano, Getafe,” Moretto said. “But Iraola wants to keep him for now; he wants to see him during pre-season. If he stays, he’ll renew his contract with Liverpool. If not, he’ll look for another club. He wants to return to Spain.”

That last line looms large now. Bajcetic’s current deal runs only until next summer. Any loan would require a contract extension first to protect Liverpool’s position. If that cannot be agreed, the cleanest option is a straight sale to Getafe.

Either way, Liverpool are deep into conversations about a player who, not long ago, was being talked about as part of the club’s next midfield cycle.

Curtis Jones edges towards Inter exit

On the other side of Europe, another key decision is accelerating. Curtis Jones, the local lad who grew up in Liverpool red, is pushing to leave for Inter Milan, the reigning Serie A champions.

Two major obstacles that had stalled the move have now shifted. Liverpool have lowered their asking price from £34m to £30m. Inter, who previously tabled a £26m bid earlier in the window, are expected to return with an improved offer that edges closer to that figure.

At the same time, Inter’s own squad puzzle has been solved. They needed to move Davide Frattesi out before committing serious money to Jones. That domino fell when Frattesi joined Lazio on loan, with an option to buy included in the deal. With Frattesi’s future parked, Inter are free to go after Jones with intent.

So Liverpool stand on the brink of losing a homegrown midfielder to Italy and a highly rated young Spaniard to LaLiga in the same window – all while insisting there are no plans to reinforce that area of the pitch.

A bold gamble in the middle of the park

If both Jones and Bajcetic walk out of Anfield, Iraola will be left with just five senior midfield options: Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and teenager Trey Nyoni.

On paper, that quintet carries quality and variety. In reality, across a season that could stretch to four competitions, it looks dangerously thin. One injury crisis, one bad month, and the entire campaign risks being rerouted.

Liverpool’s recruitment drive has been aggressive in wide areas and at the back. The club are pushing hard for Barcola and Mbaye, having already moved for Munoz, while Jacquet and Araujo add fresh legs and presence in defence. The squad is being reshaped with pace and width in mind.

But the heartbeat of any side chasing trophies is its midfield. Strip that down to five names, one of them a raw prospect, and you are trusting that luck, fitness and form all stay on your side.

For a club intent on fighting on four fronts, is that a risk Liverpool can really afford to take?