January exit to create pathway for youngster?
Will the January exit of Liverpool man Adam Lallana create a pathway for Marko Grujic to come into the first team when his loan at Hertha Berlin ends?
The Telegraph has reported that there is interest in Lallana, who may move in January or on a free transfer when his contract expires in 2020, from China and the USA.
Jurgen Klopp likes the former Southampton man, who was bought in 2015 for £25 million. Although he’s been restricted in terms of game time, Klopp still rates Adam Lallana and wants him around the squad – wrote the paper.
The playmaker started his first Premier League game of the season when he came in for Fabinho against Aston Villa – while Lallana also scored the equalizer away at Manchester United.
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Klopp has undertaken a retraining exercise with the 31-year-old and brought him into a more defensive role. Liverpool want to offer Lallana a new contract, said the Tele, but it won’t be on extended terms.
He would have to move away from Anfield to secure more regular playing time, something he’ll want and he enters the final few years of his prime. As a leader around the squad and a master of a number of positions, Adam Lallana is useful to Liverpool but his departure could allow Marko Grujic a pathway to the first team.
Grujic has been playing well for Hertha Berlin for the past season-and-a-half but his chances of playing for the senior squad seem slim – but if Lallana moves on it could open up a place in the squad and the Serbian could take it.
He’s not an out-and-out defensive midfielder, but neither is Lallana. If Klopp sees enough in Marko Grujic he could use this as a way to integrate the youngster into the squad.
Klopp doesn’t like sending youngsters on endless loans – he’ll either get into the squad or move permanently. Lallana leaving could open up a rare place for him to make a career of it at Liverpool.