Liverpool transfer news: Cardiff beat rivals Middlesbrough to signing of Reds star Marko Grujic
Neil Warnock secures Serb for rest of season after agreeing deal where he has to play or Bluebirds face large cash penalty
CARDIFF have beaten Middlesbrough in the battle to sign Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic on loan.
The Serbian international is struggling for match action under Jurgen Klopp and is being allowed to leave in order to get it.
He has made just six appearances this campaign, with his only start coming in the Carabao Cup against Leicester.
Both Boro boss Tony Pulis and Bluebirds chief Neil Warnock have spoken to the starlet, but it is the Welsh outfit who have secured his services.
SunSport understands that high-flying Cardiff agreed to a loan deal where the 21-year-old has to play or they will have to pay the Merseysiders a large cash penalty.
Klopp wanted assurances that Grujic would see regular action if sent out.
Pulis already has a stacked squad at The Riverside, which he is trying to reduce this month, and was unable to give those assurances
But Warnock has a place waiting for the former Red Star Belgrade ace in his side, and he hopes the youngster can help fire Cardiff to automatic promotion.
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Since Grujic arrived in the summer of 2016 he has been restricted to just eight cameos from the subs bench in the Premier League.
He desperately feels that he needs to leave Anfield on loan to help further his development.
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A number of Prem clubs have also expressed interest in Grujic, including Watford and Huddersfield.
But both Klopp and the playmaker believed a switch to the Championship would be more beneficial in order to get more minutes.
Liverpool still have high hopes for Grujic despite his lack of first-team action.
But they hope a spell away playing regularly will help him to come back next season and challenge more strongly for a place in the Reds team.
And they were willing to bide their time in order to find him the right club to help make that step.
Grujic will be hoping to finalise the move in time for the visit to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
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