OPINION
With their spending now finished for the summer the focus at Liverpool has now shifted to shipping out players who will not be required for the upcoming campaign.
Much of this task involves finding the right loan opportunity for several of the Reds’ young players, many of whom have found their path to the first-team made far harder by the club’s spending.
One of those players in question is central midfielder Marko Grujic, who finds himself far down the pecking order at Anfield following the acquisitions of Fabinho and Naby Keita.
Grujic spent the final half of last season on loan at Premier League newcomers Cardiff City, helping them earn promotion to the top-flight with a string of impressive displays.
The Serbia international, 22, was widely expected to return to south Wales once again this summer on another loan, but Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock has now claimed the club have missed out on signing him.
As quoted by BBC Sport, he said: “Grujic looks like he will stay put. I think he would be better off here, but it is a contract issue. I understand his point of view.”
“I have missed out on a couple of targets waiting for him. It is disappointing as everything was agreed with Liverpool – but sometimes fate intervenes”
From the sounds of it Grujic is refusing to sign a new deal at Liverpool, which is a move that the club regularly make before loaning out their young players.
By refusing to do so the Serbia international is condemning himself to at least six months of rotting in the reserves at Liverpool, with their being little prospect of much first-team action before January.
It is a big mistake from the giant 6ft 3in Serbian, who has the perfect opportunity to continue his development by rejoining Cardiff for the season ahead.
Instead, his talents will be once again wasted, and his career will take even more time to progress following several disappointing years at Anfield so far.
It is a damaging career decision from the 22-year-old, and one that he must look to reverse before the window shuts at midnight in five days time.
