The Reds are slowly turning into a sell-to-buy club despite recent success under Jurgen Klopp. The owners have spent little since conquering the most coveted crowns and the situation seems quite the same this window despite last season’s struggle through form and fitness woes. Liverpool are planning to offload the fringe stars first to generate funds and according to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, Sassuolo have registered interest in Marko Grujic as the potential successor of Manuel Locatelli.
Grujic was the first signing of the Jurgen Klopp era when he completed a £5.1m transfer from hometown side Red Star Belgrade. The Serbian impressed during pre-seasons but ended up on loan at Cardiff City, Hertha Berlin and most recently Porto. He only had 16 Liverpool appearances in all these years and the Merseysiders are ready to cash in on him with little opportunity of regular football.
However, the 25-year-old midfield star has impressed on loan and the Portuguese hotshots are keen to have him back at Estádio do Dragão. Liverpool would only accept a permanent offer of around £15m and Porto, struggling financially of late, must sell first to make it work.
Sassuolo, on the other hand, are destined to lose Locatelli amid Arsenal and Juventus rumours. The Azzurri international has just won the EURO 2020 silverware and is now preferring a move to Turin over North London as per Alfredo Pedulla.
Sassuolo CEO Carnevali to Sky: “We’re in talks for Locatelli with one club from abroad… and it’s really advanced. We’re gonna meet with Juventus in the next days, but there are no negotiations yet with Juve as Italian clubs are in difficult financial situation”. ?? #AFC #Juve
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 8, 2021
Why Liverpool Should Let Grujic Leave Despite Impressive Loan Stints
The Reds had a bizarre crisis at the back all throughout the 2020-21 term. They acted promptly by roping in Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig but are still on the hunt for Georginio Wijnaldum’s replacement. There is a 25-man squad limit in Premier League (can only have 17 non-homegrown players over the age of 21) and the exit of the outcasts would only free up space for new arrivals.
Liverpool won’t stand in the way of Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino and Neco Williams if demands are met, whereas the likes of Harry Wilson, Sheyi Ojo, Loris Karius and Taiwo Awoniyi have already been made available this summer with no future for the players in Merseyside. Grujic has been decent in limited opportunities, but his lack of pace might trouble him to fit in Klopp’s ‘gegenpressing’. Although he has reported for pre-season in Austria, a solution should soon be found with respect to his next career venture.
