Exiled Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic could join Premier League strugglers Hull City on loan until the end of the season.
The Serbia international’s season-long stay at Sporting Lisbon is set to be cancelled after a miserable spell in Portugal.
However, the ECHO understands that Markovic won’t be returning to Melwood to link up with Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
Hull boss Marco Silva is keen to secure the 22-year-old’s services on a temporary basis and Klopp is happy to sanction that move. Talks are ongoing between the clubs over a potential deal.
There is no break clause in the agreement Liverpool struck with Sporting last August so it would require both clubs and the player to agree in order for the loan to be shelved.
Sporting are desperate to off-load Markovic and Liverpool will allow that to happen as long as another move for him is in place.
Markovic cost the Reds £20million when he signed from Benfica in the summer of 2014 but he has never come close to living up to that price tag.
He scored three goals in 34 appearances for Liverpool in the 2014/15 campaign before spending last season on loan at Fenerbahce where he was hampered by a hamstring injury.
Markovic returned to Liverpool for pre-season but failed to impress Klopp and there is no way back for him at Anfield.
He headed to Sporting in a bid to kick-start his flagging career under the guidance of Jorge Jesus, who previously managed him at Benfica, but he has endured a nightmare.
Markovic has started just two league games all season and hasn’t featured since their European clash with Legia Warsaw on December 7. He didn't even make the bench for their game against Maritimo on Saturday.
