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Aston Villa: Markovic rumored, Ross McCormack linked to MLS

By Josh Tonti

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Ross McCormack of City during the round 16 A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City at Central Coast Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 14: Ross McCormack of City during the round 16 A-League match between the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City at Central Coast Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images) /
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Liverpool flop Lazar Markovic is the latest name linked with a move to Aston Villa. While incoming business is expected to be slim-to-none, the number of outbound loan moves could be considerable. Ross McCormack is one such possibility.

We are officially eight days from the end of the January transfer window.

For Aston Villa Football Club, transfer business has slowed to crawl. Rumors have been drowned out by Scott Hogan’s resurgence, four league wins on the bounce, and an early FA Cup exit to boot. Axel Tuanzebe is close, Leonardo Ulloa is not – Villa reportedly losing out to Roy Hodgson and Crystal Palace for the veteran Argentine striker.

But there’s one more name to fill the void. That being Liverpool F.C. Serbian, Lazar Markovic. Markovic, 23, is nowhere close to the Jurgen Klopp’s first-team picture, failing to appear once for the Reds this season. The last competitive club match Markovic took part in was last May during a loan stint to Hull City. So yeah, it’s been awhile.

With Serbia six months from FIFA World Cup group stage play, and Markovic having 23 caps to his name, it’s a safe bet he will need a remarkable turnaround to make the final squad. His last cap came in 2016. Serbia was drawn into Group E alongside Brazil, Switzerland, and Costa Rica.

Markovic is very interesting on several fronts. Firstly, he was a big-money signing not all that long ago – arriving to Anfield in 2014, from Benfica, for well over £20 million. He’s an attacking midfielder, most often deployed as right winger, but has experience across a front three. Markovic almost certainly would not displace any of the attacking triumvirate (Adomah, Grealish, Snodgrass), but he would be intriguing to call upon from the bench on occasion.

“Football Whispers” is the one with link – so take the rumor with a grain of salt.

Ross McCormack, sought after footballer

We can now tally the number of clubs interested in acquiring Ross McCormack’s services up to five by my count. Major League Soccer clubs LA Galaxy, Orlando City, and Colorado Rapids are showing interest in the 31-year old Aston Villa forward, per the DailyMail.

Ross’ goal-scoring prowess has seen him score 14 times in 16 appearances whilst on loan at Melbourne City. His loan deal expires the Friday, the 26th, but the Australian club have not hammered out an extension with Villa executives…yet. Leeds United are said to be interested in re-acquiring their former star too, reportedly lodging a £7 million offer for the pair of Ross McCormack and Tommy Elphick.

Next: Ritchie De Laet Departs Villa For Royal Antwerp

It seems to be a far different scenario to the summer window. Six months ago, Villa could not even create a market to sell the out-of-favor forward. For what it’s worth, McCormack would be a really good fit in Major League Soccer.

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