English duo target international forward as Liverpool to accept £13m loss – report

Mon 24 July 2017 21:43, UK

By Russell Edge

Liverpool are prepared to take a huge loss on attacker Lazar Markovic as a pair of clubs circle for his signature, according to a report.

The Daily Star claim that Premier League side Watford and Championship club Hull City are both looking to secure the winger’s signature for a reported fee of £8million.

If that turns out to be the value of the eventual transfer, then Liverpool would have suffered a massive £13million hit from when they bought him from Benfica for £21million back in 2014.

The 22-time-capped Serbian international forward has only made 34 appearances for the club in the three years he was contracted to Liverpool, and has spent much of his time out on loan.

His most recent spell saw him spend the latter half of last season at Hull City, one of the named suitors, who were managed by Marco Silva, who now manages Watford, the other side named.

However, two goals in 14 games was not enough to prevent Hull’s relegation, and he is set to be offloaded from Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp stating that he is for sale.

Football Insider verdict

Whatever happens this summer, one thing looks certain – Liverpool will be suffering a loss on Markovic. £20million on a young Serbian winger looked like a risk at the time, and it is quite evident now that the risk has failed to pay off. Jurgen Klopp now has a player not worthy of the first team, and appears to be struggling to offload the 23-year-old. A fee of £8million would really hurt the Reds, but if they cannot find a side to offer them more, it may be they have to cut their losses and move on. It may prove that Markovic has what it takes, but he is not going to be given the chance to prove that at Liverpool.