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Liverpool are closing in on their first signing under Jurgen Klopp, as the deal for Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic edges nearer.

The Reds have been battling Inter Milan for the £5m-rated teenager, with the club originally fearful the Italian side were leading the chase.

But the Reds seem to have won the battle after Klopp, a keen admirer of the player, became personally involved in the deal to bring the 19-year-old to Anfield.

His progress has also been closely monitored by Reds assistant manager and fellow countryman Zeljko Buvac.

Grujic would join the club in January, but be immediately loaned back to his current club until the end of the season.

Cash-strapped Serbian Super League leaders Red Star have been resigned to selling their big asset but Grujic wants to stay in his homeland until the end of the season to help them clinch the title.

The ECHO revealed last week Liverpool had to battle Inter's long-standing interest in the playmaker, and that the Reds were granted permission to hold talks with Grujic after Red Star’s 7-2 thrashing of Cukaricki earlier this month.

Late on Wednesday night, Grujic posted a cryptic message on his Facebook page – in the form of two happy faces - addressing reports in Serbia that the deal was done.

Asked about his future, Grujic said: “I’ll try to respect the club, the fans and the general public, but again I think that for myself I have to choose the best environment where I get the chance to play and where I work with good coaches in good conditions.

“It is certain that I remain here until the end of qualifying for the Champions League. I had a talk with Liverpool but I did not receive yet any agreement. I’m still a Red Star player.”

Grujic came up through the ranks at Red Star’s youth academy and made his first-team debut at the age of 17 in May 2013.

He has since gone on to become a firm fans’ favourite and has helped Red Star build a commanding 25-point lead at the top of the table this season, dropping just four points in their first 22 games.

Grujic, who has scored five goals for Red Star so far this term and is under contract until 2018, was part of the Serbia squad who won the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand back in June.