Liverpool will sell Lazar Markovic this summer with Hull City and Watford the early frontrunners.
After all, the 20-year-old was one of Europe’s most exciting talents, a jinking, skilful attacker likened to a young Lionel Messi for his languid locks and propensity for leaving defenders choking in his dust.
However, with The Mirror reporting that Liverpool are now prepared to accept bids of around £8 million for Markovic, it goes without saying that the Serbian didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Markovic impressed on loan at Hull despite making just 19 Premier League appearances for Liverpool
Though, at a knock-down price, Hull City would jump at the chance of offering Markovic a fresh start in English football. The 2014 Primeira Liga champion joined The Tigers on loan in January and impressed in fits and starts despite the club eventually suffering relegation to the Championship.
And the report adds that Markovic did more than enough to convince Hull to part with a substantial portion of their summer transfer budget to make his stay permanent. Though Marco Silva was in charge of The Tigers when they landed Markovic in January and, unsurprisingly, he will battle his former club for a reunion at new employers Watford.
However, it appears that new Hull boss Leonid Slutsky sees the 22-time international as a crucial part of his plans, The Mirror claiming that Markovic is viewed as the ideal replacement for Ahmed Elmohamady, the long-serving left-back who departed recently to reunite with Steve Bruce at Aston Villa.
Elmohamady’s exit leaves a big void on Hull’s flank
Blessed with boundless energy on the right wing and the ability to function either as a wing-back or an orthodox wideman, Slutsky’s logic is sound.
The question, however, is whether Hull could convince Markovic to drop down to the Championship when Watford are offering the fillip of Premier League football.
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