Liverpool loan out Marko Grujic to Porto for the season

Liverpool loan out Marko Grujic to Porto for the season
By The Athletic Staff
Oct 6, 2020

Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic has joined Porto on a season-long loan, reports James Pearce.

There is no option for Porto to buy the 24-year-old midfielder, who cost Liverpool £5.1 million from Red Star Belgrade in 2015.

He will link up with the Porto squad following Serbia’s international fixtures against Norway, Hungary and Turkey.

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How has the deal come about?

The Serbia international had looked set to stay at Anfield until January after a proposed move to Werder Bremen failed to materialise on Monday.

Liverpool had been seeking around £18 million for Grujic and had previously insisted they wouldn't sanction a loan.

They had a change of heart, however, following an approach from Porto on Tuesday.

The departure of centre midfielder Danilo Pereira from Porto to Paris Saint-Germain had opened up a slot for Grujic and Liverpool decided his development would be best served by spending the rest of this season in Portugal.

With Liverpool's midfield heavily stacked, Jurgen Klopp was enthused by the prospect of Grujic having the opportunity to test himself at Champions League level for Porto, who are in the same group as Manchester City, Olympiacos and Marseille.

Has he got a future at Anfield?

Grujic will be delighted that Liverpool have sanctioned a loan, as he was keen to play regularly after impressing in two Carabao Cup appearances so far this season.

He still retains hope that he can shine for Porto and prove to Klopp that he has a long-term future at Liverpool.

Will anyone else leave before the coming deadlines?

There could be further loan deals, with Ben Woodburn, Nathaniel Phillips and Yasser Larouci all attracting interest from Football League clubs.

Xherdan Shaqiri, who is recovering after testing positive for COVID-19, has stated that he wants to stay and fight for his place.

(Photo: Michael Molzar/SEPA.Media /Getty Images)

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