Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic is likely not to leave the club before Thursday despite previously being expected to join Premier League side Cardiff City, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The newspaper claim that the 6ft 3in tall Serbian international (Transfermarkt) was believed to be on course to join the Bluebirds on a season-long loan deal but the player has indicated that he’d rather stay and fight for his place Anfield.
The Liverpool Echo report that rather than sign a contract extension ahead of going out on loan, Grujic was now set to not exit the club before the transfer deadline for English clubs on Thursday.
It is believed that a loan move to a foreign side hasn’t been ruled out and according to Turkish Football Galatasaray were on red alert regarding the player after his move to Cardiff City started to look unlikely.
OPINION
It seems Grujic has scuppered his own chances of joining an English side on loan this summer and it is a very bold move on his part. The 22-year-old flourished when at Neil Warnock’s side on loan last season in the Championship and it’s a huge risk for him to jeopardise himself getting regular playing time in the upcoming season. While Grujic may still depart later in August in order to join a foreign side on a temporary basis, a spell in the Premier League would have been the best case scenario. The talented midfielder could have proven himself good enough in England’s top-division and managed to get himself a more prominent place in Jurgen Klopp’s plans for the 2019/20 season. However with Grujic set to stay in order to potential fight for his place then he faces the real possibility of being stuck on the sidelines watching. While the 22-year-old has a lot of potential the Reds already have several top-quality midfielders to call upon that won’t give up their place in the team easily.
