SUNDAY RAG REPORTS: MARKO GRUJIC

GRUJIC WANTS LAZIO MOVE
Written by: Guy Giles

Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic is eyeing a loan move to Lazio despite Cardiff wanting him to return after a successful loan spell last season, according to media reports.


The newspaper claim in their print edition (Sunday, pg. 63) that the Serbia international would prefer to be challenging for trophies in Rome than battling relegation in Wales.

Grujic spent a successful six months on loan with the Bluebirds last season and was instrumental in their final push for promotion.


OPINION

It has been widely expected for a long while that Grujic would end up rejoining Cardiff on loan this summer following such a successful spell in south Wales last season. The 22-year-old midfielder had a slow start to life in the Championship but then morphed into a key player for the club as they managed to secure Premier League status for just the second time in their history. A return for Grujic therefore seemed to make sense for all parties involved, with everything in place for him to thrive there once again. However, interest from Lazio seems to have turned Grujic’s head, and in all honesty, who can blame him? The lure of playing in Serie A with a historic club like Lazio is huge, and the possibility of playing for trophies is far more alluring than the thought of a relegation battle with Cardiff.

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From Media Wales...


Liverpool FC midfielder and Cardiff City target Marko Grujic speaks about future as Lazio show interest
By Paul Abbandonato


Italian aces Lazio rival Bluebirds for Grujic's signature, claim fresh reports


Cardiff City target Marko Grujic says is is prepared to wait until the very end of the transfer window to decide his future as it emerged Italian aces Lazio want to sign him.

Lazio, who will play in the Europa League, have reportedly come in with a rival bid to the Bluebirds to land the Serbian midfielder on loan for the 2018-19 campaign.

According to another media source, Grujic 'would prefer to challenge for honours in Rome' - although Liverpool are said to want their player to move to South Wales.

Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock admits he is frustrated by the delay in landing Grujic, saying the deal has pretty much been agreed between Cardiff and Liverpool but admitting there are complications.


Warnock left Cardiff's pre-season win at Burton early to fly to meet another player for transfer talks, who could be a midfield alternative to Grujic.

On Warnock's comments about not wishing to wait indefinitely, Grujic said: "It doesn't mean some pressure to me. It's just good to hear that from the manager of the club because that means he really wants me in his team.

"We will see. We have a lot of time, in August it's the end of the transfer window. We have time, no rush. We will see what is the best for my development, for the club and for everyone."


Grujic was speaking in Michigan where he has travelled with Liverpool and played in the International Champions Cup. He was part of the squad as Jurgen Klopp's side hammered Manchester United 4-1 on Saturday night.

Grujic says he has yet to discuss his future with Klopp or Reds' sporting director Michael Edwards, but insisted: "I want to be a Liverpool player in the next few years.

"We signed a few really, really good players - big names. The players adapted to us and the atmosphere in the changing room is really nice. We just keep improving every day."

After winning promotion to the Premier League on loan at Cardiff, he said: "I feel better physically and in some technical attributes as well. I went to Cardiff to get the game-time and most of the time I was on the pitch, so we will see.

"Even when I came to Liverpool I felt ready to play Premier League football. I'm even more ready today because I played some games. I'm looking forward to this season. It can be big for me and the club."

Fair enough - can't blame the lad for wanting to keep his options open.

But from our point of view we should now be going all out to get at least one and hopefully two other central midfielders in as soon as possible.

If by the end of the window we are still looking and he hasn't gone elsewhere then fine but we should not wait to see what he decides to do without persuing alternatives which I think we should be doing straight away now.

Make your mind up son - you're a decent player with potential but far from the finished article.

I think he may struggle to get a regular first team place at Lazio.

I think he may struggle to get a regular first team place at Lazio.

Liverpool will insist he plays x amount of games, wherever he ends up.

I think he may struggle to get a regular first team place at Lazio.

Liverpool will insist he plays x amount of games, wherever he ends up.

Not sure that will work with a big club like Lazio.

move on

before it gets painful

He is young and confident after being in a world cup.


he's probably being advised to wait for a club not odds on for relegation in their countries top league.


no doubt id be happy with him here but we are always going to be his last choice when bigger are around
(that's not making him out as a tw*t, but being realistic)

Thought he himself stated that he came to the uk to play in the premier lazio is in italy, i was all for him at one time but he' s got on my nerves let him go to italy he' s keeping us waiting to the last minute and thats no good to us if he switches at the last minute to lazio f... Me its kick off in 2 weeks time, surely he know' s what he wants by now and should tell his agent so.

Liverpool want him to come to us, they do not want him to go to Lazio, hence the problem, as his agent gets more money if he goes there.

If thats the case then Liverpool should put there foot down.

We should of kicked him to touch a few weeks ago. Pressure is now on NW. We are woefully short in the centre midfield.

If there is an element of truth in this then lets move on. I cant blame him but for goodness sake he hardly tore up the championship last year. The way these reporters go on about his successful spell at the club you would think he was the reason we went up. I think I saw every one bar one of his games and he was OK but in my opinion he was no better or worse than Bryson. (In fact against Millwall he was dreadful.) He may be better suited to the Prem but he is unproven and I cant understand why so much is being made of him.

If there is an element of truth in this then lets move on. I cant blame him but for goodness sake he hardly tore up the championship last year. The way these reporters go on about his successful spell at the club you would think he was the reason we went up. I think I saw every one bar one of his games and he was OK but in my opinion he was no better or worse than Bryson. (In fact against Millwall he was dreadful.) He may be better suited to the Prem but he is unproven and I cant understand why so much is being made of him.

No coincidence we went unbeaten and on a great run when he was in the team. When he was dropped we went on a bad run. Id say thats proof he defonitely helped our promotion bid a lot

If there is an element of truth in this then lets move on. I cant blame him but for goodness sake he hardly tore up the championship last year. The way these reporters go on about his successful spell at the club you would think he was the reason we went up. I think I saw every one bar one of his games and he was OK but in my opinion he was no better or worse than Bryson. (In fact against Millwall he was dreadful.) He may be better suited to the Prem but he is unproven and I cant understand why so much is being made of him.

That’s a carbon copy of my thinking of the player and of last seasons situation.
I do believe he’ll rejoin us and I won’t be too disappointed if that happens as he may improve.

If there is an element of truth in this then lets move on. I cant blame him but for goodness sake he hardly tore up the championship last year. The way these reporters go on about his successful spell at the club you would think he was the reason we went up. I think I saw every one bar one of his games and he was OK but in my opinion he was no better or worse than Bryson. (In fact against Millwall he was dreadful.) He may be better suited to the Prem but he is unproven and I cant understand why so much is being made of him.

No coincidence we went unbeaten and on a great run when he was in the team. When he was dropped we went on a bad run. Id say thats proof he defonitely helped our promotion bid a lot

Absolutely, people have short memories. Even if they don't rate his personal performance there is absolutely no doubt, on paper or in actual performances, that the team with him in it performed better than when he was on the bench.

Those are the facts, however, it is also true that he is unproven, like most of our squad, at Prem level.

Personally I think we should be after Grujic and another central midfield player because one thing we do know from the 13/14 is that Gunnar simply isn't up to this level.

If there is an element of truth in this then lets move on. I cant blame him but for goodness sake he hardly tore up the championship last year. The way these reporters go on about his successful spell at the club you would think he was the reason we went up. I think I saw every one bar one of his games and he was OK but in my opinion he was no better or worse than Bryson. (In fact against Millwall he was dreadful.) He may be better suited to the Prem but he is unproven and I cant understand why so much is being made of him.

No coincidence we went unbeaten and on a great run when he was in the team. When he was dropped we went on a bad run. Id say thats proof he defonitely helped our promotion bid a lot

Absolutely, people have short memories. Even if they don't rate his personal performance there is absolutely no doubt, on paper or in actual performances, that the team with him in it performed better than when he was on the bench.

Those are the facts, however, it is also true that he is unproven, like most of our squad, at Prem level.

Personally I think we should be after Grujic and another central midfield player because one thing we do know from the 13/14 is that Gunnar simply isn't up to this level.

This is a big year for him. Liverpool will want to see if he can make the step up and play in the EPL and therefore worth continuing with helping him progress and become a Liverpool first teamer. They are more likely to come to that conclusion with him playing for us rather than with Lazio now we are in the Premier League.