Liverpool’s Marko Grujic is a “£20m footballer”, says James Pearce

James Pearce has said that Marko Grujic is a £20m footballer, and that if Liverpool do decide to move him on in the summer, they could make a hefty profit on him.

What’s the story?

The Athletic journalist was holding a Q&A on the website, and was asked whether Grujic will return to Liverpool to become part of the team or whether he will go out on another loan next season.

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In response, he said: “I don’t think there will be another loan. I think he either comes back and plays or gets sold. He’s 24 in April. If he does move on then LFC will make a hefty profit – he’s a £20m footballer.”

Keep him

Indeed, there would be potential for the Reds to make some good money on the Serbia international in the summer. They signed him for £5.1m in 2016 and, with a Transfermarkt value of £16.2m, Pearce’s own valuation of the 23-year-old is not too far off.

However, Jurgen Klopp should look to keep him at the club rather than move him on. Whilst Hertha Berlin have not set the world alight in the past two seasons in the Bundesliga – they failed to finish in the top half last term and are in the bottom nine so far this time around as well – Grujic has been a consistently good performer. Last season, he averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.26, whilst he has managed 6.99 this term as well. He has proven himself to be a decent goalscorer from midfield, managing eight goals in 38 starts in the German top flight across two campaigns, whilst he managed two tackles and 1.3 interceptions per match last term as well. Such is his quality, former Hertha managed Pal Dardai called him the best midfielder he had seen at the club in 20 years.

Does Marko Grujic have a future at Liverpool?

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Not only is he a very good footballer footballer, but a spot is likely to be available amongst Klopp’s midfield options next term. According to The Liverpool Echo, there are no discussions with Adam Lallana to extend his contract, meaning that Grujic could very well take his place. His age shows he has plenty of years ahead of him, and with the likes of Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum approaching 30, he could very well be a regular in the years to come. Liverpool would be silly to let him depart without giving him a real crack of the whip.

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