Reds close in on Serbian winger…
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If reports are to be believed, Liverpool will soon sign £25m Benfica man Lazar Markovic.
The 20-year-old is expected to arrive at Anfield as Brendan Rodgers’ fourth summer signing, after the Reds completed deals for Rickie Lambert, Emre Can and Adam Lallana so far.
Here’s ten things you need to know about the talented attacker.
1) Markovic signed for the Portuguese club last summer, having bagged 13 goals in 46 league appearances for boyhood club Partizan.
2) The winger has made 12 Serbia appearances, having made his debut in 2012. In that time, he’s notched three goals so far.
3) Markovic stands at 5 ft. 9″,and prides himself on his unbelievable acceleration.
4) Before he left Chelsea to join PSG – David Luiz urged the Blues to sign Markovic, stating that “His understanding of the game and the number of times he touches the ball are very good.”
5) Last term with Benfica, Markovic made 49 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven goals – helping his side reach the final of the Europa league.
6) However, the winger wasn’t allowed to play in the final, having been sent off during the semis for his involvement in a touchline brawl.
7) Markovic usually played on the right wing for Benfica last term, but because he’s essentially two-footed – he’s equally adept on the left.
8) In the 2011/12 season with Partizan, aged just 18-years-old, Markovic won his side’s Player of the Year award, and was voted into the Serbian league’s Team of the Year as well.
9) Last summer, there were plenty of reports that Chelsea had signed Markovic, and loaned him to Benfica for two years. However, this was not proven to be the case, with the story generated from misquoted translations from Partizan’s director.
10) Markovic’s last match was a friendly against Brazil before the World Cup – and although El Selecao won the match 1-0, Markovic gave Marcelo such a torrid time the world-class left-back was substituted early.
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