Galatasaray Plan Grujić Raid

As is customary during an international break, the majority of news will be injury and transfer related. And, as is always the case regarding the latter, not all transfer rumours revolve around potential high profile arrivals. With Liverpool staying increasingly tight-lipped about their big-money targets, the transfer talk surrounding the club this far out from the window — with the club competing for two trophies — is largely going to be relatively low-stakes.

Enter Marko Grujic, who is finishing up his second consecutive loan spell, this one at Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga. The Serbian turns 23 in April, and although his contract on Merseyside has another four years to run, is not at a stage in his career where a new loan deal every season is sustainable. Thus, breaking into the Reds squad or a permanent move are the most likely alternatives.

The former is likely going to be a tough sell. While Grujic spent most of his youth and the early stages of his senior career playing behind the striker, he has gradually been moved further back on the pitch, to a position more concomitant with his size. The downside to this move, although it seems to agree with his abilities, is that his parent club is currently well stocked with deep central midfielders, and the Red Star graduate will find it tough to get ahead of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum on the team sheet.

The 6’4” midfielder is reportedly having a tremendous season in Germany, however, contributing three goals and an assist in 17 games for Die Alte Dame, and interest in his services is high. According to Fanatik, Galatasaray are the last in a long line of potential suitors, and the Süper Lig side are preparing a bid for the summer window.

Recent Reds’ experiences in Turkey may all but disqualify the country as a potential destination for players looking to be able to cash their paychecks, but the interest is nonetheless an indication that Grujic is a vaunted asset on the market, and should Jürgen Klopp not deem him ready for first team action, could fetch a handsome fee.