Should Liverpool sell Divock Origi? | OneFootball

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Anfield Watch

·25 October 2020

Should Liverpool sell Divock Origi?

Article image:Should Liverpool sell Divock Origi?

According to Mirror journalist Darren Wells, Liverpool are – or at least were – prepared to let Divock Origi leave the club during the summer 2020 transfer window. Fenerbahce wanted to take Divock Origi on a loan spell, with an obligation to buy at the end of the deal. Fulham, Newcastle, Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa were also interested in acquiring the Belgium international.

Liverpool were open to letting Origi go providing another club wanted to pay a loan fee plus an agreement to include a mandatory obligation to buy clause at the end of the next season. The Reds paid Lille £10m for the Belgian way back in 2014 and were rumored to be willing to accept a bid of around £15m during the summer, still making a profit on the deal.


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But should Liverpool sell a player like Divock Origi for a measly amount of £15m?

Article image:Should Liverpool sell Divock Origi?

Having failed to make it in the first team following his arrival from Lille he was loaned to Wolfsburg, which was not a great success. Five appearances and one goal in a World Cup finals while still a teenager with Belgium were what made Liverpool pull the trigger on Origi, son of former Kenyan international Mike Origi.

Origi was never given a Premier League start by Brendan Rodgers in their short time together and also under Jürgen Klopp he was only second-choice, often being on the bench. Though Klopp admitted he wanted Origi at Dortmund, the Belgian serves as the backup for Sadio Mané under his helm too. Though the striker still needs to play his first minute in the Premier League this season, he has scored 35 goals in 142 appearances, one goal every 169 minutes.

His most important goal of course was the one against Barcelona in the second-leg of the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019, cementing Origi’s place as a Liverpool cult hero. Two months later, Origi signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, extending the contract till the summer of 2024. While Origi hasn’t been able to secure regular minutes, it is clear he remains an integral part of the team.

Article image:Should Liverpool sell Divock Origi?

But the question remains: should Liverpool sell the 29-time Belgium international, now that his prime years are nearing, COVID-19 struck and Liverpool could see his value rise when European football clubs get back to a more normal financial footing?

Even during these uncertain financial times, any other player Liverpool could sign for £15m is not going to be as good as Origi. One potential replacement was Jeremy Doku, who broke through at Anderlecht last season and earned his first caps with Belgium recently. But he was acquired by Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais for a staggering £23.40m. A lot of money for a player who still needs to prove himself on the highest level.

Liverpool should not sell Divock Origi this season and not the next season neither. The Liverpool cult hero is happy with a bit part role and wants to stay at Anfield. The forward has accepted his role from the bench and is happy to be at one of the biggest clubs in the world, even if he is not the number one choice in the starting eleven. The Belgian is happy to continue being a ‘super sub’ and with number of crucial goals has done great in this role.

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