OPINION
Marko Grujic can count himself unlucky to still be out on the fringes at Liverpool, with the signing of Fabinho pushing the Serbian further down the Anfield pecking order.
A hugely impressive loan spell at Cardiff City in the second half of 2017/18 would have given Grujic hope of breaking into the first-team this summer, but the arrivals of Fabinho and Naby Keita mean that is highly unlikely.
Instead it is another loan exit which is very much on the cards for the 22-year-old as he looks to continue his development, with the Bluebirds already linked with another swoop for Grujic.
However, another team has now waded into the picture, with Goal reporting that another newly-promoted side, Fulham, are interested.
Now, while this merely looks like a straight shoot-out between two new Premier League sides, Fulham are clearly the best choice for Grujic’s development.
Firstly, their style of football is far superior to that of Cardiff, and the young Serbian will form part of an exciting outlet that will look to play their way out of relegation trouble next season.
Secondly, manager Slavisa Jokanovic is a compatriot of Grujic’s, and that Serbian connection will allow the youngster to get the most possible out of a loan spell at Craven Cottage.
It is also looking likely that Serbia international striker Aleksandar Mitrovic will also be playing for Fulham next season, and with the two set to play at the World Cup together, that could be a fruitful relationship for the Whites.
Finally comes experience, with Grujic to take more out of a spell at a different club in the long-term.
A return to Cardiff will bring with it familiarity, but a new experience in London with Fulham will aid Grujic’s development more than that, and Liverpool will reap huge long-term rewards.
It is a move which makes perfect sense for both club and player, and Liverpool must jump on this chance to broker a deal to take Grujic to west London in the coming weeks.
