Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic looks to be a target for Serie A club Sassuolo this summer.
The Serbian is expected to leave Anfield on a permanent basis after spending numerous loan spells away from the Reds.
Subject to major interest from FC Porto, the 25-year-old could now be amidst a transfer tug of war.
According to reputable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Sassuolo have shown their hand in attempting to land the central midfielder as a possible star replacement.
Twitter: Sassuolo have asked Liverpool for Marko Grujic as potential new signing to replace Locatelli who’s leaving the club… https://t.co/jIJibuQLzi (@FabrizioRomano)
This comes just hours after Romano suggested Liverpool could use Grujic as a makeweight in part of a deal elsewhere.
That deal could be for winger Domenico Berardi. The 26-year-old was part of the Italy squad that lifted the Euro 2020 trophy and has been touted with a Merseyside switch in recent days.
In fact, a fresh report from Corriere della Sera claims the Reds are ‘fascinated’ with the wideman.
Last season the 17-cap star scored 17 and registered another eight assists in 30 Serie A outings – earning a remarkable 7.43 average Sofascore rating in the process.
READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT
Valued at £13.5million and £31.5million respectively (Transfermarkt), Liverpool would be expected to pay a fee alongside any deal involving the pair.
Whilst the Italian ace possess plenty of quality, positionally there is somewhat of an issue.
Netting 112 goals and adding 68 career assists in 319 appearanes for Sassuolo – the one club man has been rather a one position man also – on the right wing.
Jurgen Klopp already boasts Mohamed Salah, Harvey Elliott and Xherdan Shaqiri for the role, although the latter could be on the move.
Whether there is a shift in formation that will see Salah move central or Elliott used as a number 10 remains to be seen, but as things stand, signing Berardi would simply overload the one position.
