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Liverpool's midfield is looking increasingly stretched, with another central player now close to leaving Anfield.

Liverpool’s options in the middle of the park are under pressure as the club moves towards approving yet another exit from midfield.

As per transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Spanish midfielder Stefan Bajcetic is close to rejoining his hometown club Celta Vigo, with talks over personal terms nearing a final agreement.

The possible exit of the 21-year-old follows Curtis Jones sealing a £30 million transfer to Serie A champions Inter Milan.

Liverpool’s squad depth has already taken a hit with Jones leaving, and if Bajcetic also departs, manager Andoni Iraola will be left with unexpectedly limited cover in central areas, even if the youngster was not expected to seriously challenge the regular starters this season.

Behind players such as Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, the bench appears particularly light ahead of a campaign that includes both domestic and European commitments.

There is also a growing sense of concern among fans about the Reds' midfield balance.

Supporters are expected to greet this latest transfer move with some doubt. With both Szoboszlai and Gravenberch naturally inclined to drive forward when Liverpool have the ball, moving on squad options without first bringing in a more defensive-minded replacement looks like a risk that could leave the back line exposed.

For Bajcetic, a move back to Galicia would amount to a return home. Liverpool signed the youngster from Celta Vigo’s youth system in December 2020 for a relatively small fee. Under Jurgen Klopp, he was moulded into a deep-lying midfielder and showed signs of a breakthrough during the 2022/23 season, making intermittent appearances under the German coach.

But injury problems linked to his growth stalled that progress, limiting him to only three senior appearances in the 2023/24 season before loan spells followed at Red Bull Salzburg and Las Palmas.

Although a return to his home region could give Bajcetic the fresh start he needs to revive his promising career, Liverpool supporters are still left wondering about the wisdom of allowing another midfield backup to move on.