Liverpool to retain Origi despite heavy transfer interest
Jürgen Klopp looks set to successfully retain Belgian international forward Divock Origi this month as Liverpool aims to hold on to some semblance of depth across the first-team squad.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool has no plans in place to sell the 26-year-old Oostende-native this month with Klopp making it clear that the former LOSC Lille academy graduate by way of KRC Genk’s youth setup will be needed at Anfield moving forward in 2021-22.
Liverpool are not planning to sell Divock Origi in January despite approaches from Serie A and Bundesliga clubs. No negotiation for Luís Diaz with FC Porto – Origi will be needed and Klopp asked him to stay until June, as things stand. ? #LFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2022
Interest in Origi is said to have been considerable as well, with clubs from both the Bundesliga and Serie A monitoring the striker’s situation on Merseyside and as things stand, he will have a role to play in light of recent events. Fellow Premier League side Newcastle was also said to be keen on Origi in the wake of Callum Wilson going down injured at St. James’ Park.
Liverpool has already had their Carabao Cup semi-final first-round clash with Arsenal postponed on account of rising Covid-19 cases and injury, with both Klopp and assistant Pep Lijnders also testing positive during the virus surge on the back of the latest Omicron variant.
AFCON commitments to provide Origi with domestic chances
With AFCON set to begin tomorrow when host-nation Cameroon lift the curtain on the winter tournament when they host Burkina Faso at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Liverpool fans will keep fingers crossed that their trio of key players set to shine bright on the continent over the next month return to Merseyside unscathed.
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 07: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC in action during the UEFA Champions League group B match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 07, 2021 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)
Star forward pair Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané are both headlining two pre-tournament favorites in Egypt and Senegal, while talented midfielder Naby Keïta will be deployed in the middle of the park for a struggling Guinea outfit that has not won in their last seven fixtures (0-4-3).
With Liverpool down to just Diogo Jota and Takumi Minamino as their only recognized forwards left in the first-team set up during the current period, the need to keep Origi on the books at Anfield is a justifiable one.
