Liverpool to sign Grujic but loan him back to Red Star

Red Star Belgrade have confirmed they have accepted a £5.1million bid from Liverpool for Marko Grujic, who will stay in Serbia on loan for the rest of the season.

Just hours after Grujic’s father was quoted as saying he would not allow the midfielder to join Liverpool, Red Star published a statement on their website to reveal a deal had been struck with the Premier League club.

The Serbian club claimed to have received rival offers for the 19-year-old from Belgian club Anderlecht amd German side Stuttgart.

In a statement posted on their official website Red Star revealed they had “unanimously accepted the offer of the English giants” and had agreed a package that would see Grujic remain with them on loan until the summer.

The statement read: “The board considered the offer and unanimously accepted the offer of the English giants. Liverpool will pay the money immediately, and the player would stay in Red Star until 01/07/2016.”

Grujic came through the academy system at Red Star and has represented Serbia at various youth levels, although he is yet to earn his first senior cap.

He could become Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s first signing at Anfield after the German took the reins in October, and Red Star insist the financial issues at the club meant they had to accept the Reds’ offer for Grujic.

The Serbian club, for whom the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Dejan Stankovic and Nikola Zigic have all played for, nearly went out of business 18 months ago and expect the sale of Grujic to ease their financial concerns.

Their statement added: “Red Star Belgrade in the last 10 days received three formal offer for the transfer of our player Marko Grujic, from Anderlecht – two million, of Stuttgart – five million, of Liverpool we received an offer worth seven million euros and 10 percent of the next transfer.

“All in Red Star sincerely want to see Marko Grujic playing in our uniform for the next 10 years, but the financial situation of our club dictates the adoption of a different decision.”

As well as negotiating a 10 per cent sell-on fee, Red Star also revealed they met Grujic’s father’s wish to see him stay in Belgrade on a loan deal until the summer.

“Marko Grujic should go to a player that continues to develop in one of the biggest clubs in the world; the club is probably the dream of every player on the planet,” Red Star’s statement said.

“We are convinced, just like the people from Liverpool, Marko Grujic has the quality for a great club and that in England he can make a great career.”