Sporting loan Lazar Markovic

Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic will spent the rest of 2016/17 campaign on loan with Sporting Clube de Portugal. The Serbian was not in the plans of Jurgen Klopp this term.

The 22-year-old was initially reluctant to leave Merseyside on deadline day, but it seems Sporting had done enough to convince the player to join them on a temporary basis.

Markovic, who was loaned out to Turkish side Fenerbahce last season, was never in contention to feature under Klopp, and this eventually lured him to a fresh challenge in the Primeira Liga.

"Lazar Markovic has joined Sporting Lisbon on a season-long loan, Liverpool FC can confirm. The Serbia winger will spend the remainder of 2016-17 in Portugal with the Primeira Liga club," read a statement on Liverpool's official website.

Newcastle United had enquired on Markovic's availability in mid-August, but the player was not keen to drop down a division. The player is likely to fill the void left by Joao Mario after he linked up with Inter Milan on an initial loan.