Marko Grujic has moved to Porto after a £10.5m fee was agreed and Fabrizio Romano has provided clarification over whether or not it’s a loan or a permanent deal.
The news broke this morning and is now official after a fee was agreed between the two clubs.
The Serbian leaves Liverpool after five years and while he never got a chance to play regularly under Jurgen Klopp, he can now full showcase his talents in Europe.
He starred on loan for Porto last season in the UEFA Champions League as they stunned Juventus in the Round of 16, winning on away goals.
PORTO, PORTUGAL – FEBRUARY 17: Adrien Rabiot of Juventus competes for the ball with Marko Grujic of FC Porto during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between FC Porto and Juventus at Estadio do Dragao on February 17, 2021 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Porto suggest on their website that the deal with Liverpool is a loan with an obligation to buy while the Reds announcement says it’s permanent, Fabrizio Romano suggests it’s a unique blend of the two.
He writes on Twitter: “Sometimes, you’ve [got] the buy option to become obligation after the first cap of the player.”
So, while the deal is technically a loan to buy deal, it’s a permanent move for Grujic, earning the Reds a fee worth a reported £10.5million.
The 6ft3 midfielder might not have been a player that fans have been able to enjoy watching but he has had financial benefits for the club.
MUNICH, GERMANY – AUGUST 16: Marko Grujic of Hertha BSC celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Hertha BSC at Allianz Arena on August 16, 2019 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Bongarts/Getty Images)
By going out on loan every season, Liverpool earned fees for his services and are now receiving a once-off payment of £10.5million and will also earn 10% of his fee if Porto sell him down the line.
While I am sure sporting director Michael Edwards would have liked to recoup a larger fee for Grujic, including a 10% sell-on clause is a good business.
The Serbian only had two years left on his Liverpool contract so the Reds did well from a relatively weak negotiation standpoint.
