Liverpool forgotten man Marko Grujic opens up on Anfield future and talks with Reds stars
Liverpool forgotten man Marko Grujic opens up on Anfield future and talks with Reds stars (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic insists he cannot offer much insight into his Anfield future having become somewhat of a forgotten man. The Serbian joined Liverpool in January 2016 as Jurgen Klopp’s first ever signing as Reds boss for around £5.1million.
But since then, he has only made 14 first-team appearances, having spent the second half of the season after joining Liverpool back on loan at Red Star Belgrade.
Stints with Cardiff City and Hertha Berlin have followed, with Grujic having spent his last 18 months in Germany with the latter.
Hertha finished 11th in the Bundesliga as the 23-year-old made 22 appearances, scoring five goals and providing a single assist.
And this term he has been an almost ever-present, the central midfielder playing in 15 of their 17 league games and scoring three goals, while adding one assist.
Liverpool forgotten man Marko Grujic opens up on Anfield future and talks with Reds stars (Image: GETTY)
Grujic was labelled “by far the best midfielder at Hertha Berlin in 20 years” by old coach Pal Dardai, with Jurgen Klinsmann having since replaced him at the helm.
But there is uncertainty over whether the towering Serbian international will remain in the German capital beyond this season or whether he will be afforded an opportunity to impress Jurgen Klopp in Liverpool’s pre-season campaign in the coming summer.
And Grujic admits he has yet to have that conversation with the Premier League leaders, who have also become the champions of Europe and champions of the world during his time in the Bundesliga.
“Honestly, we haven’t talked about my future yet,” he told German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel.
“But everyone in the club knows that I feel very comfortable and in good hands in Berlin – especially now that the new coach has come.
Liverpool forgotten man Marko Grujic opens up on Anfield future and talks with Reds stars (Image: GETTY)
“Of course everyone has to work their minutes , but I’m very happy with my time in this regard.
“Let’s see what happens in summer, Liverpool has a say in that.
“First of all, I want to use the next six months to improve myself further and to collect many points with the team.
“Maybe I could have stayed in England and sometimes played, for example in the cup competitions. Maybe I would have spent a lot of time on the bench, who knows?
“That’s why I saw the move to Berlin as an opportunity to play regularly and gain experience.
“The Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in the world – and Hertha BSC is a big club with a great tradition and history, just like the city of Berlin.”
Asked if he is still in contact with any of his Liverpool team-mates, he added: “With some of them, we write from time to time, analyse our games, exchange ideas.
“Liverpool is one of the largest clubs in the world, by tradition anyway, but also in a sporting sense at the moment. They just play incredibly good football.”
Grujic, speaking about extending his loan with Hertha in the summer, told Sport Bild: “I spent a few days in Liverpool for medical tests at the end of the season. We sat down together and talked about my plans.
“I have a contract with Liverpool until 2023, but we had a similar view: I was only able to call on 50 per cent of my abilities at Hertha. Niggling injuries set me back.
“He thought, and I agreed, it would be better for my development to spend another year in the Bundesliga.”
Asked more recently by the Berliner Morgenpost whether he is in regular contact with Klopp, Grujic said in November: “Not often. Liverpool play many games and have lent out many players.
“But there is a responsible person who looks at the loaners, keeps in touch and gives feedback. We call after every game.
“Everyone would, of course, like to play for such a team, but for that, I have to show better performances.
“But I do not think much about Liverpool, but of how we get on with Hertha from the current situation.”
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