LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 18, 2015: The Liverpool FC badge during a press conference ahead of the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 1st leg match against Besiktas JK at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda) (General Pic)

Red Star Belgrade confirm Marko Grujic’s Liverpool move

In a statement explaining their stance in Marko Grujic‘s impending move to Liverpool, Red Star Belgrade confirmed the midfielder’s transfer.

Grujic has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks, emerging as a surprise target for the Reds following the arrival of Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp’s Bosnian-Serb assistant, Zeljko Buvac is said to be the driving forced behind the club’s interest, with Grujic operating as a key player in Red Star’s march towards the Serbian SuperLiga title this season.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Red Star detailed Grujic’s upcoming move to Merseyside.

Grujic was said to be the subject of three offers from around Europe, with Anderlecht’s £1.5 million and Stuttgart’s £3.7 million overwhelmed by the Reds’ bid.

Liverpool will pay Red Star just over £5 million, with the Serbian outfit receiving 10 percent of any fee received should Grujic leave Anfield in the future.

“All in Red Star sincerely want 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,” the statement explains.

“[We] considered and unanimously accepted the offer of the English giants.

“Liverpool will pay the money immediately, and the player will stay in Red Star until July 1, 2016.”

The loan fee Red Star will pay Liverpool is said to be around £750,000.

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

“We should not ignore the fact that this transfer was the largest for [Red Star] in the last 10 years, even though Marko Grujic is not [in the senior] national team and our club is not playing European matches.”

Liverpool’s offer was simply too good for Red Star to turn down, and that this is the highest fee paid to the club in 10 years, despite Nikola Maksimovic, Nenad Milijas, Filip Djordjevic and Nikola Zigic all leaving the club in that period is significant.

This represents both Liverpool’s belief in Grujic’s ability, and the element of risk involved in the deal.

Grujic has signed a five-year contract with the Reds.