Liverpool have beaten Manchester United to the signing of Celta Vigo youngster Stefan Bajcetic.
That’s according to Faro de Vigo, who say the defender has turned heel and elected Anfield as his next destination over Old Trafford.
The young centre-back was recently linked with a move to Manchester United, with it claimed that both sides were keen to get a deal over the line and United were willing to pay to make a move happen.
Faro now say the transfer was ‘practically arranged’ until a last-minute turn in the negotiations saw a change of destination.
The 16-year-old will now ‘pack his bags for Anfield’ after Liverpool, who had been interested in him alongside Manchester United and Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, made a ‘last-minute attack’ to secure his signature.
Indeed, an emissary from Liverpool travelled to Vigo yesterday to ‘take care of travel procedures’ and help the youngster settle at his new club.
It’s explained that the new rules surrounding Brexit have ‘forced the operation to accelerate’, with the Reds pushing to get a deal done despite Manchester United having been the side that ‘bet the strongest’ on his signature.
Given new players can’t be registered until January 1st, when the new rules will be in place banning U18 transfers from Europe, it’s curious how clubs are getting around this.
The move to Anfield has now been finalised as a transfer, according to the report, and while the price isn’t mentioned, it’s made clear it won’t be too high as he only has a training contract.
Bajcetic, therefore, is a non-professional and as such, doesn’t have a termination clause like other players.
In addition to financial compensation, Celta will also receive a share of the training rights for the young centre-back, who joined the club three years ago and has made his way up through their youth ranks.
He’s now made the step to Liverpool, following the likes of Erik Bugarín and Iago de Santiago, who swapped Celta for the Premier League with moves to Wolves and Tottenham recently.
