Only turning 20 years of age in March, Lazar Markovic is reportedly set to be bought for a fee of just under £20 million. Liverpool are the club who are in for him, according to Sky Sports, with a deal to take him to Anfield believed to be close.
A winger known for possessing great pace and agility, Markovic currently plays for Benfica having left Partizan Belgrade in his homeland last summer. A series of impressive performances along with 13 goals in 46 league appearances in Serbia encouraged the Portuguese side to pursue his signature and him a five-year contract.
The 20-year-old featured 49 times for Benfica last season, and a year playing in a more competitive team in a better standard of league will have benefited him enormously. The fact that Markovic was part of a side who both won a domestic treble and lost the Europa League final on penalties is particularly significant. The taste of success from dominating all of Portugal will linger, raising expectations and forcing him to accept nothing but the best. At the same time, the heartbreak of losing out on a trophy by such a small margin will make him even hungrier to achieve victory. With Liverpool going so close to Premier League glory last campaign, this is exactly the kind of mentality the Reds need from their players going forward.
Having made his debut for Serbia at 17, Markovic clearly has something about him. If Brendan Rodgers manages to sign the winger, exactly what that something is may be seen in England next season.