Sports
Jurgen Klopp’s First Liverpool Signing
Jurgen Klopp saw many players come and go at Liverpool during his nine-year stint as manager, but very few are likely to remember his first-ever signing for the Reds.
The German boss waspraised for his ability to bring in lesser-known players and develop them into some of the best stars on the planet during his time at Anfield as well as Borussia Dortmund previously. Players such as Andy Robertson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Robert Lewandowski are all examples of this ability with each player going on to become some of the best in their specific positions when no one had thought it to be possible.
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Unfortunately for Klopp’s first acquisition at the English club however, this was not the path he was destined to follow as he is no longer with the Merseyside outfit. The man in question is Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic, who was signed from Red Star Belgrade in January 2016. The fee required to secure his signature was a nominal £5.1 million that many Reds’ fans had expected to be looking back on as a bargain in the future with Klopp’s impressive track record of finding young talent and growing them into world beaters.
Now approaching a decade since the transfer was made, it is interesting to take a look at where Grujic is now.
Marko Grujic’s Time at Liverpool Was Poor
The midfielder played just 16 times for the Reds
There was an initial delay in the signing of the Serbian in 2016 as he was weighing up his options with many top clubs across Europe said to be in the mix to sign him up. His father was apparently not overly sold on the move to Liverpool, to begin with, but a personal phone call from Klopp and even a visit from Zeljko Buvac – Klopp’s assistant at the time – convinced the young player to pick Anfield.
As it was a January signing, the player was immediately sent back to Red Star Belgrade to see out the remainder of the 2015/16 campaign. During this loan back, he was part of the squad that won the Super Liga which he would have thought was only the beginning of a trophy-heavy career.
He immediately hit the ground running in his first pre-season with his new club with multiple goals in friendly matches, including a sensational header in an emphatic 4-0 win over Barcelona at Wembley Stadium. These performances had Liverpool fans very excited at the season ahead with Grujic expected to play his part.
This did not end up being the case as he was largely limited to domestic cup appearances and rarely got near a Premier League pitch. His league debut did come in a 2-0 defeat at Turf Moor against Burnley. A hamstring injury then kept the Serbian out of action for the majority of the season as he worked to get back to full fitness with the Under-23 squad.
The following season was not much better for the midfielder as he struggled to even threaten to take a starting place from Wijnaldum, James Milner or Jordan Henderson. Again, he was very limited to cup appearances, which led to a loan move to Cardiff City in the winter transfer window. His spell in Wales saw him bag one goal while helping the team to gain promotion to the Premier League.
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Marko Grujic’s Liverpool statistics |
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|---|---|
|
Appearances |
16 |
|
Goals |
1 |
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Assists |
1 |
Despite his lack of game time, he was the subject of praise from Klopp as the German boss spoke to Liverpool.com, per Wales Online.
“We miss him already in the training group because he developed really in a fantastic way. But because of the quality we have in the squad, it happened really often that he was not even in the squad. That’s not nice, and he needs these 20 games in the Championship. I’m really happy for him.”
It was not enough to help the youngster break into Klopp’s plans however, as a further loan spell, this time to Hertha Berlin in Germany was sanctioned. Some strong performances in the Bundesliga made Grujic a fan favourite and was enough to earn an extension to his loan move, meaning he spent two years in Berlin. Showing his capabilities of getting into the box and contributing goals, he found the back of the net on nine occasions in just over 50 appearances for the club.
He’s Now a AEK Athens Player
He left Liverpool for Porto after five years before heading to Greece in 2025
Initially embarking on a further loan spell with Porto, the deal was made permanent this time after 12 months in Portugal. Liverpool received a fee of £10.5 million in 2021 with a 10% sell-on clause inserted into the deal, meaning the Reds more than doubled their money despite the player never really featuring in Klopp’s plans during his five years at Anfield.
He had a successful stint in Portugal, as he helped the team to a league success in the 2020/21 season during his loan spell at the club. There were also multiple cup wins at Porto, with Grujic being an important part of the first-team squad. Upon his return on a permanent deal, Grujic told the official club website just how determined he was to return to Porto and how happy he was to have got a deal over the line.
“I did everything I could to return to FC Porto, and I am very happy that this day has arrived. The clubs reached an agreement and returning to FC Porto was the most important thing for me, as I felt very good here last season. From the first day I left FC Porto, I received messages from fans asking me to come back. They showed me a lot of affection and gave me a lot of support, something I couldn’t ignore.”
An Instagram post from the former Liverpool man said: “[It] was a great honour to be part of this massive club!” He signed off the mentioned message by addressing his former fans: “[I] made some lifelong friends, learned many things on and off the pitch and will bring them with me in the new challenges. Thank you, Liverpool FC!”
The now 29-year-old played 140 games for Porto over the course of five years. Sadly, though, a nasty heel injury kept him sidelined for the bulk of 2024/25, and he played just two league games in his final season. In the summer of 2025, he then completed a free transfer to Super League Greece club AEK Athens.
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Marko Grujic’s statistics |
|
|---|---|
|
FC Porto |
|
|
Appearances |
140 |
|
Goals |
4 |
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Assists |
4 |
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AEK Athens |
|
|
Appearances |
9 |
|
Goals |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
Now in Greece, he’s got himself fit again and has played nine times in total so far across 2025/26. That said, he’s failed to deliver a goal or an assist for his new team, and has started just once in the league (in a 2-0 loss to rivals PAOK).
Grujic wasn’t the best signing to kick off Klopp’s reign at Liverpool, but the German certainly made up for it in the years that have passed since. It seems as though the miss was an anomaly in an otherwise stellar record in the transfer market.
Sports
Rangers Close In On Double Transfer Deal As World Cup Ace Set For Medical
Rangers are ramping up their efforts to improve the squad for the upcoming season, as TeamTalk reports that one star is close to joining the club, while another is about to leave in the opposite direction.
It’ll be the fourth bit of business that the Ibrox outfit complete this summer, having already made moves to give Derek McInnes a chance to impress in his first campaign in the dugout.
Lawrence Shankland was the first arrival, signing for free from Hearts after the club triggered a clause in his deal that allowed him to join his boyhood club.
Ross McCrorie made his long-awaited return to Rangers shortly after, while Ben Godfrey also joins on a season-long loan from Atalanta this summer.
With the backline and frontline already addressed, the next area of focus is the goalkeeping department, with a move now agreed for a double deal.
Rangers Close To Ivor Pandur Transfer
According to TeamTalk, Rangers are closing in on the signing of Ivor Pandur from Hull City this summer to help with a drastic overhaul between the sticks.
The 26-year-old will join from the newly-promoted Premier League club on a long-term deal, while the move will help push through a second switch elsewhere.
Hull are expected to sign Jack Butland from Rangers in a transfer going the other way, though it is a separate move and not described as a swap deal.
That is due to the Tigers facing financial restrictions upon their surprise return to the top tier of English football, with sales required by the start of next month to comply.
The move for Pandur is believed to be in the region of £6 million, securing a deal for the goalkeeper who has received plenty of plaudits in his time at the MKM Stadium.
That earned him a place in the Croatia squad for the World Cup, though he is currently playing as the second-choice to Dominik Livakovic.
Pandur is expected to undergo a medical in North America to complete a swift deal, while Butland is now set to travel to Hull to complete his move there.
It’s quite the accelerated switch from Rangers, helping to transform the goalkeeping ranks to strengthen the team moving forward.
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What Rangers Need Next
Rangers have moved quickly to address several issues within the squad, with the goalkeeping changes showing that the club mean business in getting back to the top.
Having already added two defenders, a striker, and a goalkeeper, it would make sense for the transfer business to turn back towards the midfield ranks.
Nicolas Raskin is expected to leave the club, and considering how important he has been in recent seasons, a replacement will certainly be needed.
Rangers Eye Free Agent Premier League Midfielder To Become Third McInnes Signing
The midfielder is hot property this summer
Lewis Ferguson has been linked, though a deal with Bologna seems unlikely while they hold out for a large fee to sign the Scotland international.
It remains to be seen who else could be linked with a switch in that position, but Rangers could move quickly to add yet another impressive option to McInnes’s squad.
Sports
Carrick Tells Man Utd Chiefs to Keep Amad Diallo After Sale Rumours
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has told the club he wants to keep one player after talk he could be sold this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
After sealing a return to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons, Man United chiefs need to give Carrick the squad he needs that will allow him to perform strongly in Europe’s elite club competition alongside the Premier League, following their third-place finish last term.
The Red Devils already have a full agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta, with the Brazil international expected to complete his move to Old Trafford next month following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.
The addition of the 26-year-old is unlikely to be the club’s last piece of business in midfield, after they identified the position as the priority area to strengthen ahead of next summer.
At least one more addition is expected following the exit of Casemiro, with the club still in talks to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United, although they face competition for the Portugal international’s signature from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
It could even be more than one after Manuel Ugarte suffered a serious injury while representing Uruguay in North America.
Romano: Carrick Wants Amad Diallo to Stay at Man United
While Man United are looking to add players to their squad this summer, there will be departures to come too.
Amad Diallo has been linked with a move to AC Milan following Ruben Amorim’s appointment at the San Siro, with the Portuguese manager a big fan of the Ivory Coast international during his spell in charge at Old Trafford.
Speaking on his latest YouTube video, Romano has dismissed rumours that the 23-year-old could return to Serie A following a previous spell with Atalanta, with Carrick telling Red Devils chiefs that the winger is an important part of his plans.
He said: “We also had some rumours from Italy about Amad Diallo, that maybe he can go to Milan. The link with Ruben Amorim.
“Let me clarify one thing, Man United have been clear with Amad Diallo. Amad is not for sale this summer. Manchester United will not let Amad Diallo leave the club in the summer transfer window.
“So, if you see links about Amad, English clubs, Milan and more, Man United want to continue with him. Michael Carrick has confirmed his decision to the club, and so the direction is very clear. Amad Diallo is expected to stay at Manchester United.”
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England World Cup Quiz
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Man United Looking at Left-Sided Winger Signing
Diallo plays from the right for United, but it is the opposite flank where they are considering making a signing this summer, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.
United have an appreciation for Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa, but Arsenal are considered favourites to sign the England international as things stand, while there have also been tentative links to other wingers like AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Hoffenheim’s Bazoumana Toure.
Another interesting name mentioned alongside United is Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain, with an exit for the France international more likely if they sign RB Leizpig winger Yan Diomande ahead of Liverpool.
Sports
Club in Pole Position to Sign Mateus Fernandes After Man Utd and Tottenham Talks
Manchester United’s pursuit of West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes has been well-documented over the course of the summer so far.
The Red Devils are looking to strengthen under Michael Carrick after the former United midfielder led the Premier League giants to a third-place finish in the top-flight last season.
It is no secret that midfield is one of United’s priority positions in the transfer market this summer following the departure of Casemiro. Additionally, Manuel Ugarte suffered knee ligament damage while playing for Uruguay in the World Cup.
Although not officially announced yet, the Red Devils have agreed a deal with Atalanta to sign midfielder Éderson but the capture of the Brazilian isn’t planned to be their only midfield addition this summer, with Fernandes still high on their priority list.
United leading the race for Fernandes
According to Football Transfers, United are currently leading the race to sign Fernandes, with Tottenham Hotspur one of their main rivals for the Portuguese’s signature.
It appears as though the Red Devils have now definitely missed out on a deal to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest with the England midfielder set for a move to Manchester City instead. Therefore, they will be increasing their efforts to get a deal for Fernandes over the line.
Man Utd Set to Make Official Approach to Sign €93m ‘Superstar’, Confident of Deal
Manchester United officials believe they are ‘strong favourites’ to complete a deal
The 21-year-old midfielder made 38 appearances across all competitions for West Ham last season, scoring four goals, and was one of the Hammers’ most impressive performers as they suffered relegation down to the Championship after a 14-year stay in the Premier League.
It was Fernandes’ second Premier League relegation, having been part of the Southampton team relegated the season prior. That was another example of the midfielder impressing in a struggling side.
United are a better option than Spurs
In terms of which option is currently the more enticing proposal between United and Spurs, the former’s ability to offer Champions League football should be a significant advantage.
There is still an element of the unknown as to what to expect from both teams this season under managers who came in mid-season last term. Carrick was initially interim manager but has since had his stay made permanent, while Roberto De Zerbi arrived at Tottenham in March and helped get them over the line in the battle for Premier League survival.
At 21, Fernandes still has plenty of room for improvement but after being one of the standout players in two struggling Premier League teams, the midfielder should get the opportunity to impress in a stronger team, as opposed to playing in the Championship next term.
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