Liverpool transfers: Atletico Madrid chasing Reds midfielder Marko Grujic in £35m deal if Rodri signs for Man City

The Serbian international has spent this season on loan at Hertha Berlin

Manchester City's interest in Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri may result in £35m being deposited in Liverpool's coffers, with the Spanish giants considering Marko Grujic as his replacement.

Grujic has spent this season on loan at Hertha Berlin and has caught the eye of a number of Europe's top sides for his physicality and control in the centre of the field.

Diego Simeone is absolutely intent on not losing Rodri, who the club only signed last year, this summer.

Ultimately, though, he may have little choice. The highly-rated young Spaniard is seen as an heir to Sergio Busquets both in the Spanish national team and also by Pep Guardiola, who promoted Busquets to Barca's first team a decade ago.

Rodri has become City's number one choice as a long-term successor to Fernandinho and is available for just over £60m because of his €70m release clause. Should City activate his clause then the decision would fall on the player, and these deals don't usually progress to this stage unless the player has indicated a willingness to make a move.

Grujic has struggled to break into the first-team picture at Anfield but impressed on loan this year at Hertha despite the club's struggles.

Selling him for £35m would represent a significant profit on the £5m Liverpool spent on him three years ago despite playing only a handful of games for the first team.