Lazar Markovic Liverpool 12072017Getty

'Money was not the issue' - Markovic discusses failed Anderlecht move

Liverpool attacker Lazar Markovic has dismissed claims that his proposed deadline day transfer to Anderlecht collapsed due to his wage demands.

The Reds had agreed a £2.9 million ($3.9m) deal with the Belgian club, following a successful loan spell at Anderlecht for the second half of the 2017-18 season.

Markovic also turned down a move to PAOK in order to rejoin Anderlecht, but was unable to agree personal terms depite flying to Belgium in order to complete the deal.

Article continues below

His wage demands were rumoured to be a bone of contention, leading to Anderlecht withdrawing from the trade, but the 24-year-old is adamant that there were other reasons at play.

"Thank you for making such a great effort for trying to get me back in the club," he wrote on Twitter. 

"However, money was not the issue! Good luck in the future Anderlecht."

Markovic has been at Anfield since 2014, arriving for £20m (£26m) from Benfica, but has played just 19 Premier League games since, scoring two goals.

In order to gain more first team experience, he has spent time on loan at Fenerbahce, Sporting CP, Hull and Anderlecht.

Despite the summer transfer falling through, Markovic is likely to leave Liverpool in the next 12 months, as his contract expires at the end of the 2018-19 season.

The Reds are unlikely to renew his deal and had been hoping to make some small return on their investment by selling him before then.

Markovic's faltering career at club level has also had an impact on his international career, with his last cap for Serbia coming in 2016.

He has played 22 times for his country, but failed to play any part in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign and has not been named in manager Mladen Krstajic's squad for the Nations League games against Lithuania and Romania.

Advertisement