Liverpool close in on deal for Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade

Internazionale had been the favourites to sign Marko Grujic, left.

The Liverpool chief executive, Ian Ayre, has flown to Serbia to seal a deal for Red Star Belgrade’s talented teenage midfielder Marko Grujic.

The 19-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Anfield over the past month and indicated on Wednesday he could become Jürgen Klopp’s first signing as Liverpool manager when he posted an image of himself and the Kop on Facebook. Klopp has become personally involved in the pursuit of the playmaker following encouragement from his assistant, and Grujic’s compatriot, Zeljko Buvac.

Internazionale had been favourites to sign the Red Star academy graduate but talks with Klopp appear to have swayed the player towards Merseyside.

Grujic would cost about £5m and is likely to remain on loan with the Serbian league leaders until the end of the season should he sign a contract with Liverpool in January. Ayre wants to conclude the transfer and see off competition from Inter.

The Anfield club are also hoping to strike a pre-contract agreement in January with the Schalke defender Joel Matip, who is out of contract with the Bundesliga club next summer.