Liverpool have struggled to maintain their high standards and expectations so far this season and Jurgen Klopp will surely be preparing for a busy summer transfer window to make much-needed improvements in midfield.

The centre of the pitch has been a cause for conversation over the poor Premier League campaign with the Reds currently six points adrift from a Champions League qualifying spot at present and after failing to secure a permanent midfield signing since the arrival of Thiago Alcantara in 2020 the scrutiny has been focused on the lack of quality in midfield.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner will all be out of contract in the summer, whilst Thiago and club captain Jordan Henderson are well into their 30s, picking up knocks regularly and ultimately are surely not long-term prospects for the future.

As a result, an overhaul of the midfield personnel should be the top priority in the summer with the club already linked to a number of talented players including Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount and Matheus Nunes.

Despite FSG potentially needing to invest heavily in the summer to get Liverpool back on track, there has been one new addition to the team this season that has been a shining light in midfield with academy graduate Stefan Bajcetic becoming a first-team regular and consistent performer for the Reds – playing 17 times this term.

Now Klopp could repeat his Bajcetic masterclass and save millions this summer by unleashing academy talent Bobby Clark, a young player who has been a standout in the youth set-up since joining the club from Newcastle United back in 2021.

Could Bobby Clark be Liverpool’s next Bajcetic?

There is no doubt that Liverpool will need to invest in experienced players to provide the quality needed in the centre of the pitch, however, bringing through another young talent like Bajcetic to add depth would be massively beneficial to Klopp next season.

Clark signed his first professional contract with the Merseysiders in February 2022 after joining just a few months before and has made an instant impact in the youth teams since his arrival.

The 18-year-old son of former Newcastle midfielder Lee Clark, has made appearances in the U18s, U21s and the UEFA U19s squad – tallying up 53 appearances, 15 goals and nine assists, as well as making two appearances in Klopp’s first team.

He earned his seven-minute Premier League debut in the mammoth 9-0 victory over Bournemouth earlier this season and was given a second 66-minute opportunity to impress against Derby County in the League Cup, but has not been seen in the first team squad since.

The Chronicle’s chief Newcastle United reporter Lee Ryder told the Liverpool Echo via the Blood Red Club Podcast:

“Bobby was Newcastle’s most promising youngster,”

“He is a really exciting player with bags of skill and talent. He could have lit up the stage at St James’ Park but now he has gone to Liverpool and that is a real kick in the teeth.”

With that being said, it is clear that Clark is one to watch and is a player who has already captured the attention of Klopp so it would not be surprising to see more from the youngster in the near future, especially if he continues to thrive in the U21s.

The central midfielder has also been called up by England at U15, U16, and U18 level and this suggests that his country also view him as a player with big potential, which is another reason why he could be the next Bajcetic to make the breakthrough at Anfield.