Marko Grujic
Marko Grujic (centre left) was part of the Serbia side that won the Under-20 World Cup in the summer Getty

Red Star Belgrade have confirmed they have accepted an offer of €7m (5.1m, €7.6m) from Liverpool for midfielder Marko Grujic. In an official statement released via the club's website, Red Star revealed they received three offers: one from the Premier League side, one from Stuttgart and the other from Anderlecht.

Due to financial pressures, Red Star were forced to accept Liverpool's offer. Grujic, 19, will spend the remainder of the season on loan at the Serbian giants before joining up with his new club in June 2016.

"Everyone at Red Star sincerely wanted Marko Grujic to wear our shirt for the next 10 years, but the financial situation of our club dictates that we have to make a different decision," the statement read.

Grujic had been linked with moves to a number of Europe's biggest clubs, with The Guardian recently suggesting Chelsea had overtaken the chasing pack in pursuit of his signature. Blues midfielder Nemanja Matic also told his young countryman the Premier League giants were interested in him.

Liverpool have, however, won the race for the youngster, who has inevitably been labelled the 'Serbian Steven Gerrard'.

Earlier this week Red Star sporting director Zvezdan Terzic claimed Grujic had signed a five-year deal with Jurgen Klopp's side and will wear the no. 8 shirt, vacated by club legend Gerrard last summer.

"We will in the next three days sign a contract with Liverpool," Terzic said on national Serbian TV, as quoted by Goal.com. "It was a record transfer. Marko Grujic will sign a five-year contract with Liverpool where he will have a €1,200,000 annual net income, which means that he will have six million from Liverpool. He'll get eight on the back."