Liverpool’s preparations for life without Luis Suárez have led to them closing in on deals for Lazar Markovic and Divock Origi and intensifying their efforts to convince Alexis Sánchez to be a makeweight in the move that will take the Uruguay international to Barcelona.

A fee of about £25 million is close to being agreed with Benfica for Markovic, the Serbia winger, and Liverpool are hopeful that the deal will be completed this week. Markovic has attracted strong interest from Chelsea, who were believed to have first option to sign him, in the past 18 months but is understood to have set his heart on a move to Anfield.

Belgium’s elimination from the World Cup has cleared the way for Liverpool to open talks with