Talks Stall in €25m Move Away for Lazar Markovic

Another "What If" story having trouble escaping to greener pastures. Sporting Lisbon have expressed interest in struggling Liverpool winger, Lazar Markovic; however talks have been held up as FSG looks to make a permanent deal rather than the loan offered by the Portuguese club.

A €25m price tag for the Serbian’s services appears to have been bit off-putting for the Primeira Liga side, meaning a reunion between the player and Sporting boss Jorge Jesus, who formerly managed the young winger at Benefica, is looking less and less likely.

Markovic will understandably be eager to engineer some sort of move away from Anfield in light of Jurgen Klopp’s comments after the 2-0 preseason win against Wigan, that appeared to open to door to those who wished to exit.

With a bloated squad loaded with attacking options, this preseason was essentially the last chance for the 22-year old to force himself into the manager’s plans. However, besides an assist to Danny Ings against Fleetwood Town, you get the sense that the youngster has so far been largely unsuccessful in his efforts, failing to significantly catch the eye.

Coupled with an injury-plagued spell on loan to Turkish giants, Fenerbache, Markovic has had a fairly hard time of it since his big money move from Benefica two summers ago.

We can only wonder what could have been if the fleet-footed winger had spent less time as an ill-suited wing-back under Brendan Rodgers and more time as...you know...an actual winger, before being shipped out for a wasted season.

If a move away ultimately fails to materialize in this transfer window, the Serbian can expect to find himself behind Coutinho, Firmino, Sane, Lallana and even youngsters like Ojo in the competition for attacking places. Looks like wing back it is.