Liverpool: Lazar Markovic closes in on Fenerbahce loan move as Fabio Borini edges closer to Anfield exit

Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic is on the verge of joining Fenerbahce on a season-long loan after falling down the pecking order at Anfield. The Serbian international will spend a year away from the club in order to gain valuable first-team experience before returning next summer.

According to Liverpool Echo, the two clubs have already reached an agreement with the Turkish side reportedly willing to pay 100% of the attacker's wages as part of the deal. He will join former Reds midfielder Raul Meireles and former Manchester United stars Robin van Persie and Nani, who joined them earlier this summer.

The report claims that Markovic has flown to Turkey to begin talks regarding his temporary move after failing to make the first-team squad for Liverpool's opening three Premier League games of the 2015/16 campaign. The 21-year-old Serbian international, who arrived from Benfica last summer in a reported £20m deal, has failed to nail down a regular place under Brendan Rodgers making just 11 starts during whole of last campaign.

However, the Northern Irishman believes that Markovic still has a future at Anfield, and is hoping that regular first-team football with the Turkish club can inspire him to come back next summer and prove his potential in the Premier League. Markovic could make his debut for the Turkish Super League outfit in their game against Antalyaspor on Sunday, 30 August.

Meanwhile, according to the Liverpool Echo, Fabio Borini is also closing in on a move away from the club this summer, with the striker having been deemed surplus by the former Swansea City manager. The Reds expect the striker to leave the club before the transfer window shuts on Tuesday, 1 September.

The Italian international forward has the chance to leave the club last summer, with Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers interested, but chose to remain at Anfield, which was a failed decision as he was never part of the manager's plans, and will now consider his options before making an exit.

Liverpool will prefer to offload the player on a permanent basis, but are willing to accept a loan deal as Rodgers is keen to thin his squad following the summer arrivals of Christian Benteke and Danny Ings. Markovic and Borini will become the Reds' 11<sup>th and 12<sup>th summer departures following the exit of Mario Balotelli, Steven Gerrard, Sebastian Coates, Rickie Lambert and Glen Johnson among others.