Liverpool have completed the signing of Lazar Markovic from Benfica.
The Premier League club confirms that the 20-year-old Serbian penned “a long-term deal” at Anfield on Tuesday.
“This is an exciting signing for us and one that improves our squad, in terms of attacking options, for the coming season,” manager Brendan Rodgers told Liverpool’s official websiteLiverpool’s official website on his fourth signing of the summer.
“He was hugely impressive for Benfica last season and has proved he has the ability to produce the goods in European competition as well, which will be important for us.”
Markovic helped benfica win the Portuguese league title last season after joining from Partizan belgrade in the summer of 2013.
“I am very happy that I have joined such a great club. I hope that I will fulfil the expectations of the supporters, coaches, players and all connected to the club,” the winger told Liverpool’s official website in his first interview.
“I have already played in the Champions League with Benfica. It is superb that Liverpool are in it and I hope we will go far next season.
“I went to Partizan and won the title. I went to Benfica and won the title. Now I have joined Liverpool and want to win the title, 100 per cent.”
Markovic becomes the ‘Reds’s’ fourth signing following the arrival of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, both from Southampton for a combined fee of £29m.
Germany under-21 midfielder Emre Can has also moved in the same direction in a deal which Liverpool paid Bayer Leverkusen £10m.
The last season’s Premier League runners-up are also waiting for a decision from Lille Metroploe’s striker Divock Origi, 19, and has had a bid for Southampton’s Dejan Lovren rejected.
£10m-rated Origi (plus add-ons) was part of coach Mark Wilmort’s Belgium side which reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup and scored a winning goal in the ‘Red Devils’ group stage 1-0 win over Russia.
Markovic scored seven goals in 49 appearances during the 2013/14 season as Benfica claimed the claimed a domestic treble and reached the Europa League final.
Meanwhile, Spanish forward Iago Aspas has joined Sevilla on loan for the rest of the season. Aspas joined Liverpool for £7m from Celta Vigo last summer and scored just once in 15 games in the 2013/14 season.
Coach Brendan Rodgers is looking to boost his squad following the sale of £75m man Luis Suarez to Barcelona, ahead of the Champions League season.
