Liverpool fans are evidently divided by the decision to send Marko Grujic on loan to Hertha Berlin.
The Bundesliga club are set to sign the midfielder for the rest of the season, but not before he pens a new contract at Anfield.
Grujic was initially expected to re-join Cardiff City on loan after earning promotion to the Premier League with the Bluebirds during his time with the club over the second half of last season.
That move was eventually squandered when both Liverpool and Grujic decided to evaluate other options in light of heavy interest from across Europe.
Serie A side Torino recently made their move to sign Grujic, but saw their loan offer with an option to buy immediately rebuffed by the Reds.
The club’s rejection stemmed from an optimism the 22-year-old still has a future on Merseyside, despite his stuttering progress in recent seasons.
Whilst some Reds have welcomed a move to Hertha Berlin as a valuable opportunity to gain regular senior football, others believe Premier League experience with Cardiff would have been the more useful route to take.
One leading factor is likely to have been Jurgen Klopp’s familiarity with German football, as well as greater encouragement that Grujic would earn regular minutes.
Here’s what fans had to say…
I’m pleased that we’ve managed to tie Marko Grujic down and maintain/heighten his market value, but I personally would have preferred to see him loaned to a Premier League club.
— Matt (@FalseFirmino) August 19, 2018
Grujic set for another loan spell. Would’ve liked him to stay in the Premier League or have another season in the Championship but hopefully he continues his development in the Bundesliga. A player with a lot of potential slowly running out of time to make the cut at #LFC.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) August 19, 2018
Don’t get why we never let grujic go on loan to cardiff but sent him to Hertha Berlin instead 🤔
— Kev Seddon (@kseddon11) August 19, 2018
Grujic woulda got more exposure to our scouts here. I’d prefer seeing what he can do in the Premier League, if he did well he’d make a very stronger case for game time in our 1st team next season…. The Bundesliga is strong but obviously not as strong…
— LFC KNOWLEDGE (@LFCknowledge) August 19, 2018
Actually think Grujic needed another loan spell; the midfield is quite strong, so his chances to impress would be fairly slim.
Hopefully showcases himself in the Bundesliga.
— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) August 19, 2018
Marko Grujic about to go on loan to Hertha Berlin is poor, after a loan spell at Cardiff we really should have let him go back into the Prem! Don’t think he’s gonna improve an awful lot over there. #LFC
— Reece ⚽️ (@ReeceG2018) August 19, 2018
I like the idea of us getting Grujic tied down on a new contract. I still think he has potential to be a good squad player in the future.
— Jamie (@JamieGriff97) August 19, 2018
Smart idea to give Grujic a new contract then send him out on loan to Hertha Berlin so it keeps his market value high, in case if he has a fantastic season and there’s interest. I think the Bundesliga will suit Grujic, best of luck to him!
— Sam (@VintageSalah) August 19, 2018
Still think we can make a really good player out of grujic. Hopefully he has a very successful loan spell.
— Ry (@GutsyGomez) August 19, 2018
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Marko Grujic to sign new deal before joining Bundesliga club