Liverpool agree transfers of two players for combined £17m

Liverpool have reportedly agreed the transfer sales of Marko Grujic and Taiwo Awoniyi for a combined £17 million. According to The Athletic, Grujic will return to FC Porto on a permanent deal for £10.5m while Awoniyi will permanently join Bundesliga team Union Berlin for £6.5m.

Grujic, who was Jurgen Klopp’s first signing at Liverpool, struggled to break into the side and despite impressing early last season in the Carabao Cup, was farmed out to FC Porto.

Grujic had been considered as a possible player in a swap deal for PSV Eindhoven’s Donyell Malen. Any part in a potential deal for the forward is now off as FC Porto beat out the likes of Sassuolo and Hertha Berlin for the defensive midfielder’s signature.

Awoniyi was unable to play for the Reds due work visa issues after signing in 2015, although he was granted a full work permit in 2021 to play football in England. The Nigerian spent time on loan at a number of teams including FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Mouscron, Gent, Mainz, and Union Berlin last term.

Liverpool’s business in the transfer market with Awoniyi will see them make a healthy profit off of their initial investment. Liverpool paid just £300,000 to Nigeria’s Imperial Soccer Academy to land the striker.

What does this mean for Liverpool’s transfer business?

The money earned from the sales of Grujic and Awoniyi is likely to be put towards Liverpool’s glaring needs. What Liverpool need in the transfer market now is a forward capable of scoring goals and competing with Roberto Firmino for the starting centre-forward position. Malen could be that player, but his valuation is at £27m according to Transfermarkt.

A player-plus-cash deal could be struck between Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven if the forward is to arrive at Anfield this summer. Malen would improve the Reds going forward and offer Klopp more options off the bench.

Will there be more transfer sales?

The simple answer to this question is ‘yes’. Suddenly, Liverpool are selling players that they had been hanging onto for the last few years. Nat Phillips, Liverpool’s player of the season in 2020-21 in my opinion, is set to join Brighton. He will replace Ben White on the south coast for around £15m.

There are still questions around some of the other players at Anfield including Divock Origi, Xherdan Shaqiri, Naby Keita, and Takumi Minamo. The four first-team players could all be sold this summer or kept as squad members.

Then there is Harry Wilson, Ben Woodburn, Sheyi Ojo, and Loris Karius. The Reds will be determined to get the four players off the books and could bring in another £20m-plus from their sales.