- 12 hours ago
Bundesliga starlet eyed by Liverpool & Aston Villa reveals transfer stance
Bundesliga wonderkid is not expected to be on the move this summer despite significant interest, according to German media.
The Mainz youngster is coming off a breakout season in the Bundesliga in which he played an outsized role in ensuring his side's survival. Gruda ended his first campaign of top-flight football with four goals and three assists to his name and did enough to catch the eye of Julian Nagelsmann.
The German national team boss invited the 20-year-old to train with the senior side ahead of Euro 2024, though Gruda was never officially part of any preliminary squad. He eventually departed after picking up a minor knock, but Nagelsmann revealed that he would be part of future camps, with the attacker having left a positive impression.
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A tricky dribbling machine, Gruda is an exciting left-footed right winger who plays with youthful exuberance and has the technical ability to be a real game-changer. His performances have attracted the attention of the likes of Liverpool, Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, who have been keen on Gruda for months.
Gruda unlikely to move
However, despite the high-profile interest in his services, it seems unlikely that the 20-year-old will be on the move this summer. According to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Mainz are not planning for a potential sale of their wonderkid and Gruda himself has hinted that he is not yet ready to play for a big club.
Speaking to Sky while away with the national team, Gruda made it clear that financial considerations are secondary when thinking about his future; he first and foremost wants to get on the pitch.
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"For me, it's important that I play a lot. If I transfer somewhere and don't play, it would destroy me. Money comes eventually. The important thing is that I play a lot and continue to develop," Gruda said.
Mainz, Plettenberg reports, have not a set price tag for the youngster and there are no talks with any clubs as things stand. Mainz are hoping it stays that way.