Friday’s British press suggests a number of major moves before the transfer window closing, with both Liverpool and Manchester City making headlines.
The Reds are seemingly set to farm out a young midfielder that cost them £20 million just 12 months ago, with the fringe man set to go on loan to Fenerbahce.
City meanwhile have started the new Premier League campaign in blistering form and look set to bolster their attacking ranks even further with a deal that is set to cost in excess of £50m.
Liverpool to send Markovic to Fenerbahce – but want him back
The Guardian has revealed that Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is set to send Serbian attacker Lazar Markovic out on loan to Fenerbahce, with the former Benfica man slipping down the pecking order at Anfield.
After the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona last summer, the Merseysiders splashed the cash to bolster their ranks, with Markovic one of the most expensive acquisitions after being signed for a fee of £20 million.
However, the eastern European midfielder failed to replicate the stellar performances he put in for Benfica in the Premier League, with Markovic taking time to adjust to his new environment.
Having made only 11 league starts for Rodgers’ men last season, his task of getting regular action at Anfield in 2015-16 was made all the more difficult following the summer signing of Roberto Firmino.
It now means the Brazilian joins compatriot Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Jordon Ibe ahead of Markovic in Rodgers’ preferences.
The Serbia international did show glimpses of his considerable technical abilities last season but was not given a prolonged period in the team to prove his worth.
The report does state that Rodgers rates Markovic and has the versatile attacker in his future plans.
Man City to complete ‘astonishing’ De Bruyne deal
Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City side look like the team to beat this season, with the Etihad Stadium outfit flying out of the blocks in 2015-16 with three impressive consecutive wins.
The attacking talent available to the Chilean trainer is considerable, but looks set to be bolstered further as a deal for Kevin De Bruyne is in the pipeline.
The 2013-14 champions have been linked with the mercurial Belgian for a number of months, but the latest development revealed by Wolfsburg director of sport Klaus Allofs suggests that a deal will be completed in the very near future.
The Bundesliga club’s chief spoke out about the former Chelsea man’s future at Thursday’s Champions League draw and admitted that the player had received an ‘astonishing’ offer from City.
“During Thursday, we have gone on with negotiations and we’ve got closer to each other,” BBC Sport quote Allofs as saying.
“He’s had an astonishing, astonishing offer from City and we can’t compete with that.
“I would prefer to keep him, not to get the money.
“But the money now is really the issue because Kevin was qualified with Wolfsburg for the Champions League and he was a key player and took the next step.”
The Guardian have also reported that De Bruyne’s switch to the Etihad Stadium is almost complete and could be made official as early as today.
The newspaper’s report suggests that the gifted playmaker’s fee will be as much as an astounding £54 million and that he will earn around £250,000 per week.
De Bruyne was a revelation for Wolfsburg last season and a driving force behind the Volkswagen Arena outfit finishing as Bundesliga runners-up, scoring 10 goals and laying on 21 assists domestically.
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