Marko Grujic Reportedly Set for Hertha Berlin Return

According to reports in Germany, Hertha have won the race to take Grujic on loan for the coming season.

Having signed a new five-year deal last summer and still being just 23 years old, Marko Grujic remains in Liverpool’s long-term plans. However, he isn’t in the club’s short-term plans, and it has been clear for some time now that another loan was coming.

And according to Germany’s Kicker, that loan will see him returning to Hertha Berlin for another season after the mid-table Bundesliga side beat out Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt—as well as Serie A side Atalanta—in the race to land Grujic on loan.

Grujic’s personal preference for stability and to return to the club and city he found success with—at least when fit—last season is said to have played a major role in Hertha retaining the player, and certainly there does seem value in Grujic staying where he’s valued.

When the young midfielder was fit and played for Hertha last season they were on form to finish in the European places. When he didn’t they were on form to be relegated. That was the difference he made to them—and he was valued incredibly highly for it.

He’s comfortable with the city and club, then, and there will be no doubts that he will be counted on to play a starring role for them in the 2019-20 season. And afterwards, he will be expected to return to a Liverpool side that may need midfield reinforcement.

This season, the club already have Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keïta, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the books. There is, put simply, no room for Grujic to get the playing time he needs for his continued development.

Next summer, though, there may be a place for him—at 24, with three years still left on his Liverpool deal, and with the player having had the chance to carry Hertha into Europe. Heading back to Germany for one more year, then, seems ideal for all parties.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com