Following reports that Jurgen Klopp was set to recall Lazar Markovic in January, the Serbian now looks likely to remain with Fenerbahce.
Reports on Tuesday claimed that Klopp was considering whether or not to activate a recall option on Markovic’s season-long loan deal this January.
But this has now been widely refuted, with the 21-year-old unlikely to return to Anfield this season.
The Times‘ Tony Barrett told Twitter that the club “do not have an option to recall” Markovic.
He continued to explain that “I need to check this with @premierleague but I don’t think it’s possible to recall a player from a season long loan to a foreign club.”
Of course, if that were true, then it’s baffling as to why Liverpool were seemingly going to be able to recall Divock Origi back in January. Rodgers in the end recalled Jordon Ibe instead.
The source of the original reports, the Liverpool Echo‘s James Pearce, also addressed the situation.
“Markovic’s reps thinks #LFC can recall him in Jan, #LFC insist under the rules they can’t,” he detailed.
“Looks like he’s staying in Turkey for the season.”
This will be a blow for Liverpool, with Markovic representing a useful attacking option for Klopp—who has seen his squad depleted by injury in the first weeks of his tenure.
Meanwhile, Markovic has criticised Klopp’s predecessor Brendan Rodgers’ management, with the Ulsterman’s decision to part ways with the former Benfica man this summer widely criticised by supporters.
“I didn’t have a good relationship with the coach,” he is reported to have told Portuguese publication A Bola this week.
“That was a problem. I played in many positions but didn’t play in mine.”
However, Markovic remained pragmatic, concluding that “I do not look at the past…and Liverpool have a new coach.”
While he may not be able to return to Merseyside this season, Markovic could well play a key role under Klopp in the future.
At just 21, time is on his side, and Markovic is a high-potential young talent that would suit Klopp’s aggressive, high-tempo counter-attacking system perfectly.
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