Update 23/12/2015
Red Star Belgrade have confirmed that they have accepted a bid from Liverpool for Marko Grujic.
BREAKING: Red Star Belgrade accept £5.1m bid from Liverpool for midfielder Marko Grujic.
Reaction on #SSNHQ— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 23, 2015
One hold up in the deal, however, is coming from Grujic’s father who thinks his son is being railroaded into a move.
Talking to Serbian paper Blic, Goran Grujic said:
I’m speaking about people who are in charge of the club (Red Star Belgrade). Everyone turned their back on them, as they’ve spent all the money the club has had, and they see a solution in Marko’s transfer. That’s why there’s so much pressure on him. Ten times per day they are calling him by phone, urging him to sign a contract.
We had chat with people from Udinese, and then guys from Anderlecht also came. But, there was no conversation about transfer, they just wanted to see what kind of kid Marko is, what’s his way of thinking. And, that was all, just chat. Then, suddenly came that story about Liverpool… All I can say is that the passports are with me, and I can guarantee that Marko is not leaving, he’s not going anywhere.
He became world champion, he’s on his way to win a title with Red Star, it’s logical that his price will be bigger in summer 2016. But, there are so many people that want this transfer to go earlier, to get money. All of this is packaged as a beautiful strawberries and cream for Marko because she was still a child. But the reality is different.
I know that coach Miodrag Bozovic has respect for my son, but I told director Zvezdan Terzic openly – leave my kid alone. And, as of Liverpool’s offer, I’m sure there will be bigger than this one. Let him win the title with Red Star first.
Midfielder Marko Grujic has agreed terms on a five-year contract with Liverpool and will fly to Merseyside some time this week to complete a medical.
As reported by James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool will pay Red Star Belgrade €7m (around £5m) for the 19-year-old who has scored five times in all competitions for his club this season.
Ian Ayre flew to Serbia last week to meet with officials from the club and the player’s representatives and it appears that those talks were successful.
As part of the deal, Red Star will earn 10% of any fee Liverpool receive for Grujic as and when they sell him.
According to Pearce, Inter Milan made a late push to sign the Serbian Under-21 international, but a phone call to the player by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp explaining exactly what role he’d have at Anfield was enough to get him to commit to a move to Anfield.
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