Lazar Markovic vs. Tranmere Rovers. Credit: Propaganda

Hull City lining up loan bid for Lazar Markovic ahead of return from Sporting CP

With Lazar Markovic likely to see his season-long loan with Sporting CP cancelled, the Liverpool winger is a target for Hull City.

Sporting are considering whether to cut Markovic’s spell in Lisbon short, with the 22-year-old having made just 14 appearances for the club in all competitions.

And left out of Jorge Jesus’ squad for Saturday’s 2-2 draw away to Maritimo, Markovic is expected to return to Liverpool this month.

However, it won’t be to join Jurgen Klopp‘s first-team squad, according to the Liverpool Echo, with struggling Hull instead lining up an offer to take him on loan.

Tigers manager Marco Silva will be familiar with Markovic from their time in the Primeira Liga, with the winger playing in both of Benfica’s victories over the Portuguese’s Estoril in 2013/14.

Markovic would add another accomplished wide option to Silva’s ranks, joining Samuel Clucas, Robert Snodgrass and Ahmed Elmohamady, and will hope to secure regular first-team football.

However, given Markovic’s poor run on Merseyside in 2014/15, whether he has the pedigree for the Premier League is questionable.

WIGAN, ENGLAND - Sunday, July 17, 2016: Liverpool's Lazar Markovic in action against Wigan Athletic during a pre-season friendly match at the DW Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Markovic has made just 34 appearances for the Reds since joining in a £20 million deal in 2014, scoring three goals and assisting another, struggling to establish himself under Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers regularly utilised Markovic out of position as a wing-back, and eventually opted to send the Serbia international on loan to Fenerbahce in 2015/16.

While Klopp included Markovic in his squad for pre-season, the German ultimately took the same approach, sanctioning his move back to the Primeira Liga, where he has subsequently faltered.

While Sadio Mane‘s absence this month has highlighted a lack of other pacy wide players in Klopp’s squad, that he won’t be turning to Markovic is likely an indicator of his long-term future.

Ben Woodburn, Sheyi Ojo and Harry Wilson have emerged as options from the academy, with all three featuring in January’s 1-0 victory away to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup third round.

Arriving for a significant fee and spending the majority of his contract away on loan, Markovic’s signing can only be considered a failure—and this is a major disappointment, given his potential.

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