Aston Villa were keen to loan Marko Grujic from Liverpool, but Championship rivals Cardiff City and Middlesbrough are providing competition.
Aston Villa looked to have an excellent chance of bringing Marko Grujic in on loan this month, when the Liverpool Echo stated on Tuesday that Jurgen Klopp wanted the midfielder to go to a Championship side to ensure he would play regularly during the second half of the season.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce is understood to be a fan of the 6ft 3ins powerhouse. And Grujic’s potential move to the Midlands looked all the more impressive when you consider that Premier League duo West Ham United and Huddersfield Town were also keen, as reported by ESPN.
But, with Liverpool making it clear that Grujic is available, it is hardly a revelation that Villa are not the only second tier side keen to give a platform to one of Europe’s most highly-rated young midfielders.
According to ESPN, Championship rivals Cardiff City and Middlesbrough have both expressed an interest. And it is understood that Cardiff manager Neil Warnock has already talked to Grujic about where he sees him in the team.
Now, Grujic certainly fits the style of player Warnock has been after. As reported by Wales Online, the veteran gaffer was hoping to sign a more experienced player to boost Cardiff’s promotion bid but Liverpool’s Serbian starlet has captured his imagination.
A box-to-box athlete with a ferocious shot and alarming physicality, there is a reason he has been likened to Paul Pogba, Steven Gerrard and Nemanja Matic.
Grujic could be a star man at Cardiff, in contrast to being just be another talented midfielder in an already crowed Aston Villa engine room containing Henri Lansbury, Mile Jedinak, Connor Hourihane and co.
If Liverpool are keen for Grujic to get some playing time, Cardiff, rather than Villa, may be the ideal destination.
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