Jurgen Klopp is about to sign his first player as Liverpool manager.
Marko Grujic arrived on Merseyside on Sunday to undergo a medical and complete a £5.1 million (€6.89 million) move from Red Star Belgrade, according to the Liverpool Echo.
The 18 year old Serbian will sign a five year deal at Anfield, but will return to Red Star on-loan for the rest of the season.
Liverpool secured a move for the midfielder ahead of Russian clubs Zenit St Petersburg and CSKA Moscow, who both offered €10 million, because the player was determined to join the Premier League side.
Grujic also faced opposition to the move from his father, who swore he “won’t let them ruin my boy.”
“The club is paying for him £5.1m, but then leave him on loan and that loan costs £730,000?” He wrote.
“Really, I’m starting to think I should call the police to tell them everything about this pressure. His passport is with me, and I pronounce that Marko is not going anywhere.
“None of our (Serbian) younger players survived in the Premier League. Bojan Djordjic, Milos Veljkovic, Adem Ljajic, Zoran Tosic, Lazar Markovic, Danilo Pantic… Do you need me to continue to list them? None of them had the opportunity to prove themselves.
“The second is the story with (Branislav) Ivanovic and (Nemanja) Vidic. They came as experienced players. I know he has the quality to be able to play in England , but it’s not league for him now.”
It’ll be at least another six months before Grujic becomes a member of Klopp’s squad.
