Rumour Mongering: Grujic to Sassuolo as Locatelli Replacement

Now that the Euros are over, the transfer window is really springing to life. Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli is keen to make the move to Juventus, snubbing an offer from Arsenal. The negotiations will continue to play out between the two clubs, but it’s expected that Juventus will have to raise their bid, which currently stands at €30m plus youth players. (The Gunners’ offer was €40m but Locatelli has no interest in playing for them.)

In the meantime, Sassuolo is not waiting around. They have identified Liverpool FC’s Marko Grujic, who looks like he’ll finally have a permanent home after successive years of going out on loan to Hertha Berlin, and Porto. Grujic’s contract at Anfield runs to June 2023, and it would certainly benefit the club to get a decent fee out of him. The 25-year-old was previously linked with a move back to Porto as a piece in a transfer for their attacking midfielder Otavio, but that rumour has lost steam.

Since joining Liverpool from Red Star Belgrade in January 2016, Grujic has only appeared 16 times in all competitions for Liverpool. With Liverpool keen to raise funds for transfers by selling fringe players this summer, this is a move could work for both sides.