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Lazar Markovic will have a chance to prove his worth at Liverpool FC next season, despite reports suggesting he could return to former club Benfica.

Portugese newspaper A Bola linked the 21-year-old Serbian with a loan move back to Lisbon, despite only joining the Reds in a £20m deal last summer.

But the ECHO understands the club have no plans to allow Markovic to leave.

Markovic suffered a difficult first season at Anfield, making 34 appearances in all competitions and scoring three goals, largely failing to justify his large transfer fee.

Brendan Rodgers also moved him around the pitch, with the international winger lining up – at times – at left wing-back and right wing-back in the 3-4-3 formation.

Markovic is currently with Serbia ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier with Denmark and scored a late goal in their 4-1 warm-up match victory against Azerbaijan on Sunday

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