With a return to Champions League football, so comes the inevitable endless treadmill of players linked with a move to Merseyside. Various talents across Europe have been linked with Liverpool and despite the defensive weakness that cost them last season, it has been a host of forwards that have dominated the rumour mill as the next names to join the Reds.
One of those many forwards is S.L. Benfica's Lazar Marković, a 20-year-old winger who has long been scouted by staff at Liverpool, amongst other top European clubs.
Marković is a product of the FK Partizan Youth School, the most prestigious youth academy within Serbia, in the name of the country's most successful team - Partizan Belgrade. The academy has been responsible for the development of other well-known stars such as Manchester City's Stefan Jovetić and Matija Nastasić and Fiorentina's Adem Ljajić. After progressing through the youth ranks at Partizan, Marković eventually promoted to the first-team and made his debut towards the end of the 2010/11 season as a 17-year-old, and since his stock has only risen.
He was rewarded with a five-year contract at Partizan just months after his debut, and the following season he began to establish himself as a regular, scoring his first goal in August 2011. By the end of his first season, Marković had six goals in 26 appearances for Partizan, consequently being voted Player of the Year by the club's supporters. By the end of the 2012–13 season, Marković had appeared in 19 league games and scored 7 goals. After facing Inter Milan in the Europa League that season, putting in impressive performances both home and away against the Italians, Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni, said: "He [Marković] is a player with exceptional qualities. He possesses a very impressive acceleration and has a bright future ahead of him.”
Subsequently, his rise at club level coincided with a rise through Serbia's national ranks. He started at U17 level, before moving up to U19 where he was made the captain before making a short 2-game stint at U21 level, before being rewarded with the final jump into the national team days before turning 18. He repaid the faith in him only months later when he scored his first goal against Chile in an international friendly.
After a string of eye-catching performances for his club, including earning himself the honour of being named into the Serbian Pro League Team of the Year in his only two full seasons, Marković earned himself a switch from Serbia to Portugal, where he would join Benfica for a fee of £8.8 million. Since joining the Eagles, his development has accelerated at an alarming rate and he is now one of the most exciting young talents in European football.
Despite the fact the Portuguese Primeira Liga is not regarded as highly as the likes of the Premier League, La Liga and now the Bundesliga in terms of quality, it's certainly had it's fair shair of top class footballers. Over the years, Falcao, Hulk, David Luiz, Ramires, Ángel Di María and Cristiano Ronaldo are just several who learnt their trade in Portugal before moving to pastures anew. Since switching to the Stadium of Light almost 12 months ago, Marković has now ensured it looks set that he will be the latest off the league's production line.
The Serbian has caught the attention of scouts with numerous flashes of brilliance, including a clever run to beat the offside trap, before receiving a through ball and superbly flicking the ball oh so casually over the enrushing goalkeeper and then controlling it with his thigh and ghosting the ball into an empty net in a game against Guimarães in February. Another memorable individual finish against Sporting came in just his third league game for the club, where he weaved almost magically through three challengers, making his way into the box before calmly slotting an effort past the oncoming keeper.
He hasn't had a whole handful of starting chances, often having to start on the bench, but Marković was a star turn in Benfica's Europa League campaign, where they were beaten on penalties in the final. He was excellent throughout the tournament, and noticeably influential in the first leg against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. In their 3-1 win, his energy and acceleration out on the right hand-side was too much for Spurs to deal with, and he won the costless-kick that eventually lead to the goal that killed the game off in the late stages.
He may have only spent a year at the Eagles in Lisbon, but his abilities have blossomed in almost all areas. His most noteworthy attribute is his astonishing pace, which is particularly useful when he is deployed down the wing, where he runs directly at defenders. Benfica manager Jorge Jesus has aided in overseeing Marković's tremendous versatility, as he can slot into a number of positions in the final third. Whilst right winger is his predominant role, he can also play 'in the hole' as a no.10 in a similar way to Raheem Sterling, and he has been known to deputise as a striker too. He has also played a right midfielder, a left midfielder, a trequartista, a support striker and can be equally as dangerous in a range of formations, such as on either side of a front three, which means his tactical adaptability makes him an attractive prospect for Liverpool, whose manager loves the ability to rearrange his forwards whenever necessary.
Notwithstanding, this is also in part a weaknesses, because there is no one position that Marković is strongest, and this can cause problems for coaches. Managers cannot seem to define what is his best role, meaning that he is constantly repositioned. As a result this is threatening his potential, because he hasn't really had the chance to cement down a single position and hone his skills in that role. Despite the worry this can pose, his tactical versatility could actually suit Brendan Rodgers incredibly well because of his love for flexibility, as he constantly showed last season - moving Raheem Sterling, who Marković has earned comparisons to, into various different roles throughout the campaign.
In addition to the Serb's terrific turn of pace, his dribbling ability is outstanding. He is very technically gifted, and his touch and balance makes it difficult for any defender to take the ball from his feet due to his close control. He is extremely comfortable both in and out of position, with the capabilities not only to run directly at defences with the ball, creating space and causing problems but he is equally as content in tracking back and helping out his own back line. He is renowned for his industrious work rate, regularly sprinting back to help out full backs and offering help for the defence, a quality that any manager looks fondly upon.
Not only is he confident running at players with the ball, but he is also able to act as the playmaker, with the ability to pick out a pass in and around the opponents' final third a rare gift at his age. Marković is most certainly a flair player, capable of finding himself in space and causing havoc, diverting defenders away from their man and forcing them to deal with his threat, in turn helping out his teammates. He certainly fits in to the category of 'hungry, quality' players that Brendan Rodgers is looking for and his positive, attacking demeanour suggests he would fit seamlessly into his current system.
One fundamental flaw in his style of play though, is his lack of goals. With Rodgers constantly on the look out for players who can add goals from across the field, Marković's return of five goals in 26 Benfica appearances may leave room for improvement. The record itself may not read so poor, but given some of the opportunities he has found himself in, he is not always clinical. In the Europa League, in which he played eight games, he managed only 50% of his shots on target and he was guilty of spurning several decent opportunities in the league and in Europe.
Furthermore, despite his willingness to contribute defensively, his win rate in individual duels leaves a lot to be desired. Marković is not the burliest of players, unlike the comparable Sterling, which means he can often be muscled off the ball. Something that would predictably be a worry in the Premier League, where defenders show no hesitancy to rough up their opponents. At the age of just 20, he does however have time on his side, and it arguable that he has a lot of tools to add to his trade.
He is by no means the finished article, in fact far from it, but his potential is mouthwatering. His character backs up his talent, and despite being such a young man, his determination is unparalleled and he has already shown he is prepared to battle to prove himself. Who better, than a manager who thrives off working with and developing youth prospects for him to help fulfil the expectations surrounding the Serbian.
Going off of his current ability, a price tag of £25 million is fairly steep, but given his potential, it could be understood. After all, why should Benfica let go of such a prized talent after just one season if they are not going to be fairly compensated?
Nevertheless, even if Liverpool had to paid such a significant fee, he would offer an exciting outlet on the opposite side of the 19-year-old Sterling and with both in tandem on either wing, with the ability to frequently interchange, defences wouldn't know where to start with the pair. The 20-year-old was heavily scouted last season, with Liverpool scouts at almost every Europa League game in which he featured, and they haven't been put off by his price tag.
If the Reds make him their man, they can expect Marković's versatility, agility, work-rate and bags of potential to thrive at Anfield, especially under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers. He has plenty of time to further develop, and if his current trajectory is anything to go by, Marković could go on to become something special. Whether the Ulsterman opts to unearths the diamond or not will be seen this summer, and if he decides against a bid, Chelsea are surely his next destination. The Blues have a strong history with Benfica, having bought Ramires, David Luiz and Nemanja Matic from them and are said to have a clause in the 20-year-old's contract that would entitle them to acquire his talent for just £12 million.
Liverpool may have to act quickly, with Chelsea having long had interest in the Serb, but Rodgers seems keen and the player is also open to a switch, so don't be surprised if he is the subject of a multi-million pound bid sometime in the near future.