Liverpool agree £2.9m Markovic sale to Anderlecht

The winger will depart the club permanently after not featuring for the Reds since 2015

Lazar Markovic’s time with Liverpool is at an end after the club agreed a fee with Anderlecht over the winger.

Goal can confirm the Reds will receive £2.9 million (€3.3m/$3.9m) for Markovic from the Belgian club, where he had spent the second half of the 2017-2018 season on loan.

Reports had suggested Markovic was in line for a move to PAOK, but the winger turned down the Greek side, allowing Anderlecht to secure his return on a permanent basis, though personal terms must still be agreed upon.

Liverpool also inserted a 50 per cent sell on clause into the deal, which played a role in the club's decision with the sale.

The Reds believe regular European football, a heavily scouted league, a player with a point to prove and a desire to get back to the Serbian National Team is the best way for Markovic to rebuild his career and, with the sell on clause, see Liverpool recoup more of the outlay they spent on bringing him in..

Markovic had one year left on a contract signed when he arrived in the summer of 2014 for £20m from Benfica, having netted seven times as a 20 year old in his only season with the Portguese club.

However, Markovic struggled upon arriving at Anfield, managing just a pair of goals in the 2014-15 season, as he was part of the group of players who were unable replace the void left behind by Luis Suarez’s departure in the summer.

It proved Markovic’s only season at Anfield, as he never could find his way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans after he replaced Brendan Rodgers in the early 2015-16 season.

Instead, the winger would spend parts of multiple seasons out on loan.

Arguably the most successful of those stints came at Hull City, where he scored a pair of goals in 12 Premier League games in the second half of the 2016-17 season.

However, Hull City was ultimately relegated to the Championship and Markovic returned to Liverpool purgatory.

Markovic also spent time at Fenerbahce, Sporting CP before his January 2018 loan to Anderlecht, where he scored once in eight appearances for the club.

His tenure with the Reds ends with a total of three goals in 34 appearances, all coming in the 2014-15 season.