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Ex Liverpool Wonderkid Lazar Markovic, 32, is Without a Club

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Back in 2014, then-Premier League boss Avram Grant considered a 19-year-old Liverpool player to be bettered only by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for his age group, but it’s safe to say that early promise never quite followed its rose-tinted trajectory. Seven years later, the youngster in question has all but fallen off the face of football.

It was during that time that the Reds were still navigating – though very precariously, to say the least – their wilderness years. Everything good that came during that period was built on hope, only to be later undone by reality, as they would go on to spend 30 years without a league title, coming within arm’s reach of ending that hoodoo under Brendan Rodgers that very year, before selling Luis Suárez to Barcelona.

Filling his shoes was always going to be a difficult task. But Liverpool’s hierarchy were confident they had used the £65 million windfall they received wisely to keep the fight for silverware alive. Yet, while their hopes rested on the shoulders of a teenager tipped to become an all-time great (and a certain Mario Balotelli), the 32-year-old’s current predicament casts a harsh light on just how far he strayed from meeting his ceiling.

Liverpool Wonderkid Compared to Messi & Ronaldo in 2014

Liverpool 2014

Lazar Markovic sealed a £20million move to Anfield from Benfica when Brendan Rodgers was in charge in 2014. Speaking about the then-youngster at the time, former Chelsea and West Ham boss Grant spoke highly of the player. Having helped oversee some of his development at Partizan Belgrade prior to him joining Benfica, the journeyman tactician spared no expense in his praise:

“I can say that apart from [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi, Markovic is one of the best talents I’ve ever seen at 19 years of age.”

Lazar Markovic

In the end, Markovic scored just three goals in 34 senior appearances for the Reds during his five-year stay on Merseyside. During that time, he also spent loan spells at Fenerbahce, Sporting CP, Hull City and Anderlecht before joining Fulham on a free transfer in January 2019.

Despite his limited impact for Liverpool, former teammate Kolo Toure also spoke highly of the player’s character. Not long after his move from Lisbon in 2014, the Ivorian was quick to praise what he had seen – though since then, the decline has only gathered pace, sliding from bad to worse and ultimately towards rock bottom.

Markovic Now Free Agent After Being Released By Apollon Limassol

Lazar Markovic

After joining Fulham midway through the 2018/19 campaign, Markovic failed to earn a new deal at Craven Cottage. He instead moved back to Belgrade with Partizan that summer, where he enjoyed a brief resurgence over the next three seasons. It was with his Serbian boyhood club that he managed 34 goals and 31 assists in 154 total outings.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, though, Markovic – two years the wrong side of 30 – is available once again after it was confirmed he’s left Apollon Limassol following the expiration of his latest one-year deal. The winger has had four clubs in the past four years since joining Gaziantep in the summer of 2022 and is even considered CEO Michael Edwards’ biggest transfer regret at Anfield.

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Liverpool Now Plotting Move To Sign Bradley Barcola Instead Of Yan Diomande

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Liverpool are considering their options in the transfer market, with wingers at the top of their priority list heading into the busy summer months.

The Reds have a tough task at hand to try and replace the outgoing Mohamed Salah, both in the goals and assists he provides, but with the personality and leadership he brought as well.

Being the successor to a much-loved club icon isn’t easy, as Arne Slot found out after two seasons in the job at Anfield, making it a difficult decision to make.

Plenty of options have been linked with Liverpool as a result, with recent reports claiming that contact has been made with RB Leipzig for Yan Diomande.

While the 19-year-old is certainly one star on the radar, the Reds may well pivot in a different direction.

Bradley Barcola To Liverpool Latest

Bradley Barcola

According to French outlet Le10Sport, Liverpool are now keen on signing Bradley Barcola, having tracked the PSG winger for a number of months.

The report claims that contract talks between the forward and his club have dragged on, with his current deal running until 2028, which may create some uncertainty over his future.

If a move is on the cards, then PSG are looking at a hefty price tag, claimed to be in the region of £112 million, which would trump the club-record sale of Neymar to Al-Hilal back in 2023.

A decision is yet to be made by Barcola, with the choice to extend his stay or leave the club seemingly ahead of him in the summer months surrounding the World Cup.

This isn’t the first time the 23-year-old has been linked with Liverpool, as Fabrizio Romano reported last summer that the Reds were interested in a potential deal.

Back then, the journalist claimed that the internal view on Barcola was that he was “world-class”, which may well prompt them back into the market for him.

It remains to be seen whether the Merseyside club are willing to stump up the cash for that large price tag, or whether he would be open to the move.

But it provides another option for Liverpool to consider in the transfer market.

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Bradley Barcola Boost

psg barcola

If Liverpool opt to sign Barcola over Diomande, then they have another young winger who can progress even further, but with a bit more certainty to his performance levels.

The French international has been a consistent threat since breaking through at Lyon, and then moving to PSG, having won plenty in his time at the club so far.

While he is often used as a left-winger, there is some versatility in his skillset, as Barcola has also featured on the right as well as at centre-forward.

That could allow Andoni Iraola to shuffle his team around, whether that means moving Rio Ngumoha or Cody Gakpo to the right, or featuring Barcola there himself.


Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola watching on from the touchline


Sporting Director of UCL Club Confirms he Wants to Sign Liverpool Star

Liverpool could lose more of their players this summer.

As a right-footed option, the youngster wouldn’t perfectly replicate the ability of Salah, but could help improve someone like Alexander Isak, who prefers crosses into the box.

There would be an injection of pace and trickery that has been missing from Liverpool, handing the squad a much-needed boost heading into next season.

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Tottenham Could Now Lose Luka Vuskovic

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Tottenham’s summer of change could bring about some tough exits, as Gianluigi Longari reports that contact has been made for one star, who may be open to a move away from the club.

It comes as the great Spurs rebuild is already underway, with the hierarchy looks to avoid a repeat of the consecutive 17th-placed finishes the team have endured over the past two seasons.

A move for Andy Robertson has been confirmed, with Marcos Senesi expected to join shortly after in a double switch that will bolster the backline.

While that, combined with an attempted bid to sign Jan Paul van Hecke, will certainly improve the defensive solidity of the team, it may cause some other changes in the squad.

Cristian Romero is expected to leave, but he may not be the only Tottenham centre-back who could be on the move this summer.

Luka Vuskovic Linked With Transfer Exit

Luka Vuskovic

Among those who have an uncertain future in North London is Luka Vuskovic, who will return to Tottenham after his loan at Hamburg comes to an end.

The 19-year-old has been touted as one of the best young centre-backs in the world, with plenty of potential to grow having broken through at such a young age.

However, according to a report from Longari, Vuskovic would be open to leaving Spurs if an offer arrives, with clubs circling a possible deal.

Bayern Munich and some Premier League clubs are claimed to have made initial contact to see if a deal can be done, with it being uncertain where he fits into the club’s plans.

It remains to be seen whether the Croatian international will be available or not in the window, but there could be some huge decisions to make in the recruitment team surrounding his future.

While Vuskovic has plenty of potential, it’s clear that Tottenham need immediate improvement, and it’s uncertain whether he will be given an opportunity to progress in the immediate future.

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How Good Is Vuskovic?

Luka Vuskovic

Having been a senior professional for a few seasons now, Vuskovic has demonstrated that he is capable of playing at a top level, with the potential to grow even further.

Moving from that current level to the potential he has is another thing, however, and requires a player to gain more experience and even make mistakes.

Given the campaign Tottenham have had, it makes sense that quality at centre-back is fresh on the club’s mind, with Senesi and Van Hecke two clear targets.

While that may block out a pathway for Vuskovic, there are questions over how good he would be for Spurs in their current guise, though other players have suggested he is top quality.


Roberto De Zerbi emotional as he claps Brighton fans


‘Completed’ – Fabrizio Romano: Tottenham Set to Seal Another Summer Signing

Tottenham are busy ahead of the summer window.

“I think he [Vuskovic] has a very good and successful future ahead of him,” Bayern Munich and Germany centre-back Jonathan Tah recently said ahead of his nation’s World Cup campaign, having come up against the defender in the Bundesliga over the past season.

It’s an assessment that other clubs clearly agree with, as they now swarm a potential deal. It’s up to Tottenham whether they can give him the right game time or risk losing him in the process.

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Derrick Rose Named His Chicago Bulls All-Time Starting 5

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In the summer of 2025, retired Chicago Bulls icon Derrick Rose sat down for an interview to reflect on his career. Rose, a lifelong Chicago native from the city’s South Side, revealed his picks for the franchise’s all-time starting lineup.

Rose showed plenty of appreciation for his hometown team, paying tribute to Bulls greats from different generations, including Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, and Artis Gilmore. In the end, though, he elected to back several players he shared the court with during his own Bulls tenure.

Most notably, that decision saw Rose leave Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen off the team, despite the seven-time All-Star playing a key role in six championships during the 1990s. Rose is certainly entitled to that opinion, and few people understand the quality of those 2010s Bulls better than he does. Even so, overlooking Pippen feels like a surprising call considering everything he accomplished in Chicago.

Derrick Rose

Point Guard

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Rose unsurprisingly opened his starting five by selecting himself at point guard. His journey remains one of the most inspiring, yet heartbreaking, stories the NBA has witnessed in recent memory. Drafted first overall out of Memphis, Rose joined the franchise he had supported growing up while making his way through Chicago’s basketball scene.

Many viewed Rose as the player who would revive Chicago basketball after the post-Jordan years, a period that had been difficult for Bulls supporters. Not only did he live up to those expectations, but he exceeded them, quickly becoming a star and winning Rookie of the Year in 2008-09.

Rose dazzled during his first playoff series, averaging 19.7 points and 6.4 assists while helping push the Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett-led Celtics to seven games. He followed that up with three straight All-Star appearances between 2010 and 2012.

His peak arrived in 2010-11 when he captured the MVP award ahead of prime LeBron James, who had recently taken his talents to Miami. Some still view it as a historic MVP snub, but Rose’s season was extraordinary regardless.

Unfortunately, everything changed during Game 1 of Chicago’s first-round playoff matchup against Philadelphia. With the top-seeded Bulls comfortably ahead, Rose attacked the basket and landed awkwardly while making a pass, tearing his ACL and abruptly halting what looked like the beginning of a special era.

Rose would win only one more playoff series with the Bulls, doing so in 2015 before once again running into LeBron in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Even so, he guided Chicago to five playoff appearances and an Eastern Conference Finals berth, helping restore relevance to the franchise after Jordan’s retirement.

While the ending was unfortunate, Rose remains one of the greatest players in Bulls history. During his three-year peak, he averaged 22.7 points and 7.1 assists, spearheading a tough Chicago team that enjoyed two memorable seasons near the top of the NBA. His blend of explosive athleticism and creative finishing around the basket remains difficult to match.

As one of the best point guards of the 2010s, Rose fully deserved a place in this lineup.

Michael Jordan

Shooting Guard

Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson Credit: © Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY, USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services, LLC

As expected, Rose selected Michael Jordan at shooting guard, creating a backcourt featuring two of the greatest athletes the league has ever seen. Jordan hardly needs an introduction, having won six championships, six Finals MVPs, ten scoring titles, and earned recognition as one of the greatest defenders in NBA history. Many fans still regard him as the greatest basketball player of all time.

Jordan’s relentless competitiveness and refusal to accept defeat would have been a natural fit on Tom Thibodeau’s Bulls teams of the early 2010s, several members of which appear in this lineup. Few players have ever combined elite scoring and elite defense the way MJ did.

The North Carolina legend remains the defining figure in Bulls history, and nearly three decades after his final game for the franchise, Chicago is still searching for someone capable of recreating his impact.

Luol Deng

Small Forward

Luol Deng Bulls Magic

This is where Rose’s choices become controversial. He opted for longtime teammate Luol Deng over Scottie Pippen at small forward. Selected in the 2004 NBA Draft, Deng spent the first decade of his career with Chicago and shared six seasons alongside Rose.

Deng was a key figure throughout several playoff runs and played an important role in the rugged, defense-first culture Thibodeau established. Few players embodied the mentality of those Bulls teams more than Deng, and Rose clearly wanted to recognize his contribution by placing him in the starting five.

Deng was far from an ordinary player, averaging 16.1 points and 6.4 rebounds on efficient shooting during his time with the franchise. He frequently served as either the second or third scoring option and was one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders at his peak. He also earned two All-Star selections in Chicago.

That said, picking Deng ahead of Scottie Pippen is difficult to justify. Pippen was unquestionably the second-most important player on six championship teams and was widely considered a top-10 player throughout the 1990s. Deng enjoyed an excellent career but never reached that level individually or in the postseason. Still, it’s nice to see Rose showing appreciation for one of his closest teammates.

Carlos Boozer

Power Forward

carlos boozer

At power forward, Rose chose Carlos Boozer, another player he spent four seasons alongside between 2010 and 2014. By that point, Boozer was no longer quite at the level he had reached in Utah, where he earned his All-Star selections. He arrived in Chicago via a sign-and-trade deal with the Jazz during the 2010 offseason, a move that proved to be one of the franchise’s more successful acquisitions.

Even so, Boozer remained highly productive, averaging 15.5 points and 9.0 rebounds across 280 appearances for the Bulls. He also brought physicality and toughness to the floor, making him an ideal fit for the team’s identity.

Joakim Noah

Center

Joakim Noah

Continuing his trend of selecting former teammates, Rose picked Joakim Noah at center. Noah spent nine years with the Bulls and overlapped with Rose for seven seasons. Once again, he perfectly represented what those Chicago teams were all about, bringing endless energy and effort every night.

Noah was an outstanding rebounder and defender, but his impact went beyond the stat sheet. He chased every loose ball and played with a passion that echoed Dennis Rodman‘s time in Chicago, another player who arguably deserved consideration for this team.

Still, Noah’s individual accomplishments should not be overlooked. He won Defensive Player of the Year and remarkably finished fourth in MVP voting in 2013

Yes, fourth. While averages of 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists may not stand out today, they were hugely valuable in an era where defense was paramount and Chicago regularly won games through toughness and discipline.

There is an argument that Noah reached offensive and playmaking heights Rodman never achieved while still providing elite defense. Many wouldn’t put him ahead of Rodman given the latter’s role in three championships, but Noah’s case is certainly worth discussing.

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