Liverpool have reportedly turned down a loan offer from Torino for Marko Grujic, with the reported £9m option to turn it into a permanent move deemed not enough.
The 22-year-old midfielder joined the Reds from Red Star Belgrade in 2016, but due to a lack of playing time, he was loaned out to Cardiff City in the second half of last season.
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Having played a role in their successful push for promotion to the Premier League, the youngster would undoubtedly have hoped to kick on and establish himself at Anfield.
However, with the signings of Fabinho and Naby Keita, coupled with the fierce competition for places already at Liverpool, it doesn’t look likely that he’ll get many opportunities under Jurgen Klopp.
With that in mind, a loan exit perhaps makes sense again this season, although according to Goal.com, Torino’s offer to take Grujic on an initial loan deal before turning it permanent for £9m was not enough, as the Premier League giants want double that fee.
Whether or not that ends Torino’s interest in the Serbian international remains to be seen, as it does seem like a substantial demand for a player who has yet to prove himself consistently at the highest level.
Nevertheless, with the transfer window in Italy closing on Friday evening, the Serie A outfit haven’t got long to make their next move if they wish to continue to pursue Grujic.
Given the competition for places noted above with the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum also ahead of him in the pecking order, a loan exit to a European side seems like the most sensible decision for Grujic to avoid siting on the bench this season.