Liverpool CAN'T repeat Jurgen Klopp's MISTAKE with new wonderkid

Liverpool are Andrija Maksimovic and have a plan to sign him. It's a plan that failed in the past, however.

Anfield Watch exclusively revealed Liverpool's plan to sign Andrija Maksimovic on Saturday evening. The Reds have been linked with the Serbian wonderkid for some time - but now they're formalising a way to get him.

Maksimovic is one of the brightest prospects in European football right now, with a race on to snap him up. Liverpool, though, lead that race.

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Their plan to get him is simple, too. Liverpool want to sign Maksimovic in January and immediately loan him back to Red Star. They'll then assess the teenager in the summer and potentially loan him out again - or maybe include him in the squad.

It's a smart plan but one Liverpool have tried before. It failed that time - and they must learn from that mistake.

Jurgen Klopp's failure

Signing a young star from Red Star in January, midway through a manager's first season, and then loaning him right back to them. History repeats itself.

This is exactly what Liverpool did with Marko Grujic back in 2016. He was Jurgen Klopp's first signing as the new boss, signed from Red Star and sent back there immediately.

The problem was that Liverpool never actually gave Grujic much of a chance. He came back after that loan and went into the first-team squad, but played just eight Premier League games over the next 18 months.

A six-month loan followed and Grujic was fantastic for Cardiff City in the Championship. He then spent two years with Hertha BSC where the Serbian looked like one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga.

But Grujic just didn't get a proper go of it at Liverpool. He was forgotten about immediately, with no place in the squad and one never arrived. The Reds rated him and spoke highly of him - there just wasn't room.

It's a mistake Liverpool can't repeat with Maksimovic. There simply must be a proper pathway to the first team if they're to correct the mistakes of nine years ago.

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