Cardiff City remain at the front of the chase for Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic, though it may take until next week to finalise a move.

Lots of media reports have touted Grujic for a return to Cardiff — after the Serbia World Cup star impressed on loan last season — and it is understood the 22-year-old will re-join the club on loan at some stage this summer.

Italian sides AC Milan, Lazio and Atalanta — as well as Fulham — have all been linked with permanent moves for Grujic , but Liverpool would prefer another loan for the former Red Star Belgrade trainee, who is rated highly at Anfield.

Just like the last time he signed for Cardiff, in January, loan terms will have to be agreed and that's taking some time to be rubber-stamped by all parties.

Grujic scored just a single goal in 13 appearances for Cardiff last season, losing his place at the end of the campaign when Aron Gunnarsson returned from injury.

But he impressed many Bluebirds fans with his ball control and passing ability from deep-lying midfield and many believe he will be more at home in the Premier League.

The central midfield position has become a priority for Neil Warnock in this transfer window, after the Yorkshireman bolstered his goalkeeping, left-back, wing and forward positions with the signings of Alex Smithies, Greg Cunningham, Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid respectively.

After concluding those four permanent deals, which were all premeditated transfers, Cardiff are now chasing two further loans before concentrating on offloading players towards the end of the window.

Grujic is almost certain to sign on loan, with the other temporary signing expected to be a striker.

Grujic has not yet linked back up with Liverpool as he rests following World Cup duty with Serbia, where he didn't feature and his country bowed out at the group stages.

He wasn't included in the Reds' squad to take on Tranmere Rovers in a Tuesday night pre-season friendly as his rest period and discussions with the Bluebirds continued.