Rumour Mongering: Lazar Markovic on Verge of PAOK Move

Markovic is expected to depart shortly and reports in Greece claim PAOK are his most likely destination.

Lazar Markovic is expected to leave Liverpool before the close of the transfer window for most European leagues tomorrow, and Greek side PAOK—recently seen being knocked out of the Champions League playoff by Benfica—are said to be frontrunners.

If the move comes to pass, PAOK will have beaten out Anderlecht, Standard Liege, and Olympiacos for the talented but frustrating player whose career has stalled, beset by injury issues and consistently inconsistent play, ever since he moved to Liverpool.

No longer a promising youngster, Markovic turned 24 in March and has been on the books at Anfield for four years now, though he has spent much of that time out on loan with Fenerbahce, Sporting, Hull City, and finally Anderlecht for six months last season.

Since making his £20M switch to Liverpool in the summer of 2014 after Chelsea declined their option* to match any bid Benfica intended to accept for the player, Markovic has made 34 appearances for the Reds in all competitions and scored three goals.

While English outlets relaying the information have generally suggested this will be a loan deal that will see Markovic run down the final year of his contract, reports in Greece have not as yet specified the nature of the deal.

*Chelsea had a preferred destination clause for Markovic that required Benfica to inform them they intended to accept a bid and gave Chelsea the chance to match it. If they had, Benfica would have accepted their bid while being obligated not to accept Liverpool’s.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com