It looks like rumours have linked Liverpool with this youngster from Serbia that plays for my local team. While the price is reportedly too high for Liverpool I feel that he would bring an attacking flair we so desperately need.
His name is Lazar Markovic, and he is only 17 years old. He made his breakthrough this season, and has already graduated from our famed academy. Partizan have produced many young players, and currently have the second best academy in Europe, according to UEFA. Some previous players to come through our ranks are:
Mateja Kezman - 122 appearances for PSV, 105 goals. He played for Chelsea as well, you may remember his goal against us (LFC) in the final of the 2005 CC, in the 112th minute.
Simon Vukcevic - Plays for Blackburn now, scored against Sunderland a month ago.
Radosav Petrovic - Also plays for Blackburn, hasn't impressed much but is only 22.
Stefan Savic - Plays for Manchester City, transferred for 10 million in the summer, has had a shaky start, with highlights such as clean sheets against Bayern and Villareal, but lows such as the penalty conceded to us last week. Only just turned 21, very prospective.
Stevan Jovetic - one of Europe's hottest talents, plays for Fiorentina, scored twice against us last time we were in the CL and is incredible with the ball.
Zoran Tosic - Signed for United for 7 or 8m but was never given a chance, as Ferguson kept trying to play Obertan. Was the best reserve player and recieved very few senior call-ups despite impressing. Sent on loan to Koln and then sold to CSKA, at which he found form and is a starter in the CL as well.
Adem Ljajic - Signed by United who then cancelled the transfer due to lack of funds (given as work permit problems, which there weren't many chances of). Plays for Fiorentina and is considered a top talent in Europe.
+ many others.
As you can see, our academy has experience with sending players to higher leagues, even the Premier League. Now, on to Markovic.
Lazar is 17 years old and has incredible pace and positioning. He knows how to get by a player, not always with stoppovers and dribbles but with speed (think Krasic - but more skillfull)
[video=youtube;5kF-ktlXDlo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kF-ktlXDlo&feature=related[/video]
His assist is at :51 seconds in, he is the player that keeps the ball in and assists.
He has a good shot as well, for a 17 year old he knows how to finish very well, for example:
[video=youtube;WZBRQA1n1nE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZBRQA1n1nE&feature=related[/video]
and
[video=youtube;M7slciQRz9c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7slciQRz9c[/video]
(35 seconds in)
A few negatives are that he doesn't have quite the necessary physique for the Premier league yet, as in playing 90 minutes week in and week out. 17 is also a bit too young. LFC would have to find him an English course, a school and accomodations for his family, and possibly go through FIFA before signing him. He is valued at 3.5m pounds on transfermarkt but is highly unlikely to leave for under 10m pounds.
The Serbian League certainly isn't anywhere near the Prem in terms of quality, however it is a very physical league (as opposed to the technical leagues like Spain and Italy). This will have helped him understand the strength of it and the tackles, knocks he will face, etc.
He certainly is one for the future, and seeing as we have been linked to him, I thought I'd share what I know. I don't believe he will transfer this winter, but maybe in the summer.
Here is an overview of all his highlights this season:
[video=youtube;BSG5C8eSuK4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSG5C8eSuK4&feature=related[/video]
He's been linked as a fan of Chelsea, but he had this to say:
"Liverpul je veliki klub i zašto bi ih neko odbio. Ne krijem da sam navijač Čelsija, želja mi je da igram u tom klubu, ali ko zna gde će me odvesti profesionalna karijera. Ipak, ja sam u ovom trenutku vezan isključivo za Partizan i želim da se u narednih nedelju dana što bolje odmorim pred nastavak šampionata - kaže Marković."
In translation: "Liverpool is a big club, why would anyone ever turn them down? I'm not hiding that I am a fan of Chelsea and I'd like to play for that team, but who knows where my professional career will take me. Still, at this moment I am tied emotionally to Partizan and wish to rest for the next week to prepare myself before the championship continues" - says Markovic.
When asked about comparisons to Michael Owen: "Oven je legenda Liverpula i engleskog fudbala i prija mi poređenje s njim. Međutim, daleko sam ja još od njega i treba mnogo da radim da bih mu se približio" - dodao je Lazar Marković.
Translation: "Owen was a legend of English football and a Liverpool legend, and I enjoy the comparisons to him. However, I am not close to his skills yet and I need much work to come close to them" - added Lazar Markovic.
Allegedly his representatives have travelled to Merseyside to discuss terms with Comolli and Dalglish plus local media are reporting a sum of around 11m, but I feel that is a bit too far for this transfer window.
I'd say at this moment the rumours are about 2/5 in terms of accuracy but there are certainly PL eyes on him.
Enjoy.
His name is Lazar Markovic, and he is only 17 years old. He made his breakthrough this season, and has already graduated from our famed academy. Partizan have produced many young players, and currently have the second best academy in Europe, according to UEFA. Some previous players to come through our ranks are:
Mateja Kezman - 122 appearances for PSV, 105 goals. He played for Chelsea as well, you may remember his goal against us (LFC) in the final of the 2005 CC, in the 112th minute.
Simon Vukcevic - Plays for Blackburn now, scored against Sunderland a month ago.
Radosav Petrovic - Also plays for Blackburn, hasn't impressed much but is only 22.
Stefan Savic - Plays for Manchester City, transferred for 10 million in the summer, has had a shaky start, with highlights such as clean sheets against Bayern and Villareal, but lows such as the penalty conceded to us last week. Only just turned 21, very prospective.
Stevan Jovetic - one of Europe's hottest talents, plays for Fiorentina, scored twice against us last time we were in the CL and is incredible with the ball.
Zoran Tosic - Signed for United for 7 or 8m but was never given a chance, as Ferguson kept trying to play Obertan. Was the best reserve player and recieved very few senior call-ups despite impressing. Sent on loan to Koln and then sold to CSKA, at which he found form and is a starter in the CL as well.
Adem Ljajic - Signed by United who then cancelled the transfer due to lack of funds (given as work permit problems, which there weren't many chances of). Plays for Fiorentina and is considered a top talent in Europe.
+ many others.
As you can see, our academy has experience with sending players to higher leagues, even the Premier League. Now, on to Markovic.
Lazar is 17 years old and has incredible pace and positioning. He knows how to get by a player, not always with stoppovers and dribbles but with speed (think Krasic - but more skillfull)
[video=youtube;5kF-ktlXDlo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kF-ktlXDlo&feature=related[/video]
His assist is at :51 seconds in, he is the player that keeps the ball in and assists.
He has a good shot as well, for a 17 year old he knows how to finish very well, for example:
[video=youtube;WZBRQA1n1nE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZBRQA1n1nE&feature=related[/video]
and
[video=youtube;M7slciQRz9c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7slciQRz9c[/video]
(35 seconds in)
A few negatives are that he doesn't have quite the necessary physique for the Premier league yet, as in playing 90 minutes week in and week out. 17 is also a bit too young. LFC would have to find him an English course, a school and accomodations for his family, and possibly go through FIFA before signing him. He is valued at 3.5m pounds on transfermarkt but is highly unlikely to leave for under 10m pounds.
The Serbian League certainly isn't anywhere near the Prem in terms of quality, however it is a very physical league (as opposed to the technical leagues like Spain and Italy). This will have helped him understand the strength of it and the tackles, knocks he will face, etc.
He certainly is one for the future, and seeing as we have been linked to him, I thought I'd share what I know. I don't believe he will transfer this winter, but maybe in the summer.
Here is an overview of all his highlights this season:
[video=youtube;BSG5C8eSuK4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSG5C8eSuK4&feature=related[/video]
He's been linked as a fan of Chelsea, but he had this to say:
"Liverpul je veliki klub i zašto bi ih neko odbio. Ne krijem da sam navijač Čelsija, želja mi je da igram u tom klubu, ali ko zna gde će me odvesti profesionalna karijera. Ipak, ja sam u ovom trenutku vezan isključivo za Partizan i želim da se u narednih nedelju dana što bolje odmorim pred nastavak šampionata - kaže Marković."
In translation: "Liverpool is a big club, why would anyone ever turn them down? I'm not hiding that I am a fan of Chelsea and I'd like to play for that team, but who knows where my professional career will take me. Still, at this moment I am tied emotionally to Partizan and wish to rest for the next week to prepare myself before the championship continues" - says Markovic.
When asked about comparisons to Michael Owen: "Oven je legenda Liverpula i engleskog fudbala i prija mi poređenje s njim. Međutim, daleko sam ja još od njega i treba mnogo da radim da bih mu se približio" - dodao je Lazar Marković.
Translation: "Owen was a legend of English football and a Liverpool legend, and I enjoy the comparisons to him. However, I am not close to his skills yet and I need much work to come close to them" - added Lazar Markovic.
Allegedly his representatives have travelled to Merseyside to discuss terms with Comolli and Dalglish plus local media are reporting a sum of around 11m, but I feel that is a bit too far for this transfer window.
I'd say at this moment the rumours are about 2/5 in terms of accuracy but there are certainly PL eyes on him.
Enjoy.
