Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic may remain at Anfield for the first half of the season, according to his agent Fali Ramadani.
Throughout the summer, the Premier League champions have been linked with Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara, who has less than a year remaining on his contract.
However, given the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic, the Merseyside giants are against meeting the Spaniard's £27m asking price.
While a move transfer could still materialise, Ramadani has hinted that 24-year-old Grujic is likely to stay at the club, increasing the chances of a move for Thiago being scrapped until 2021.
Speaking to Kicker, Ramadani said: "Liverpool want to keep him. That could change in January at the earliest."
Grujic has spent the last two seasons on loan at Hertha Berlin, scoring nine goals from 51 appearances in the Bundesliga.
