Liverpool misfit Lazar Markovic has joined Hull City on his second loan of this season.
Sporting Lisbon originally took the Serbia international at the beginning of the current campaign but the deal was mutually terminated last weekend.
However Anfield officials have acted quickly in moving on Markovic with a half-season switch to the Tigers as they bid to battle Premier League survival.
The 22-year-old’s short-lived return to Portugal saw him fail to force his way regularly into the plans of his ex-Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, now in charge at Sporting.
Criticism was also levelled at Markovic by another former coach in Vitor Pereira, now at Benfica, who worked with him during last season’s loan with Fenerbahce.
“Markovic has a lot of talent but needs to refocus his goals,” he told O Jogo.
“If he is earning millions in his early twenties, that does not mean he doesn’t need to work anymore.
“Markovic must realise that it is necessary to work for things to happen otherwise, when it comes to it, it will not be a promise.
“When he finishes his contract with Liverpool I want to see where he goes.”