A couple of years ago, just a few months after coming painfully close to the Premier League title, Liverpool managed to add some quality players to their squad ahead of the 2014-15 season. However, Brendan Rodgers, the then manager was not able to repeat the heroics with the club as the team came crashing out of the Champions League and only ended up with a place in Europe’s second-tier competition. But one transfer that excited many fans before the start of that season was Serbian winger Lazar Markovic.
The 22-year old move to Liverpool from Benfica in 2014 on a £20m deal but was just not able to cement a place in the starting XI with the former Liverpool manager playing him in an unfamiliar wing-back role. His exploits did not impress the manager enough as he was sent on loan to Turkish side Fenerbahce where he made 12 appearances in all competitions. He was not able to perform well enough to warrant a permanent deal in Turkey and was sent back to Anfield at the end of the last season.
The winger is currently on tour with the Reds in the US and is getting some game time under his belt before the new season but it looks like the Serbian has not been able to impress the new manager Jürgen Klopp enough for him to stick with him for the whole season. This has seen the likes of Roma, Fiorentina, Viola and Sporting all scout for his signature this summer. So does the 22-year old have any future at Anfield or is he better of moving away from England?
At his age, Markovic has shown enough potential to deserve another chance at Liverpool but the current squad at the club is full of attacking players who will in themselves fight for a place in the starting XI next season. Though the domestic cup games will give the manager a chance to test his fringe player, Klopp has enough depth in his squad to play first team players in almost every game next season. The club is also absent from Europe, further reducing the chances for the winger leaving a move away from the club as the only alternative.
The 22-year old is a good fit for Klopp’s style of play and if he can get some regular game-time under his belt against the best teams in the country, he will surely grow on to become a huge asset for the club in the future. But at the moment, he is surplus to requirements at Anfield this season and should be looking to make the move to Italy with AS Roma interested.
The Italian outfit are not really looking to purchase him this summer and are hoping to bring him to Rome on a loan. This seems to be the most sensible option for all parties involved as another year of regular football will help Markovic become a better player. He will surely get more games in Italy than in England and if he can prove to the Italian club that he is good enough to warrant a place in the squad for another season, Roma will surely make a permanent move for him. If he is impressive enough for Klopp to take him back to Liverpool, it will be a great opportunity especially if the club can qualify for Europe at the end of the next season.
A loan deal away from the club seems to be the best option for Lazar Markovic and with a host of clubs interested, it will be interesting to see where the 22-year old will play come the start of the next season.
