Atalanta line up last minute Divock Origi move if Newcastle buy Duvan Zapata

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Atalanta could move for Liverpool forward Divock Origi in the next few hours, according to reports. It all hinges on Newcastle United.

This comes from The Times. They claim Atalanta want Divock Origi and may approach Liverpool this evening.

The player, who Jurgen Klopp described as a ‘legend’ this season, is apparently free to leave the Reds on deadline day. That’s largely because of a strange contract situation.

Origi’s deal currently expires at the end of the season but there’s a clause in there that complicates things. If the Belgian plays a certain number of games across this campaign, the deal automatically extends for another year.

Is Origi going to play those games, though? It seems unlikely, especially with Luis Diaz joining in the last few days. Origi has only played 38 Premier League minutes this season and his chances of more just decreased.

Thus this is actually the final time Liverpool can definitely secure a transfer fee for the player. Their alternative is playing Origi purely to secure that extension, with no guarantee they can sell him next summer either.

But as it happens, there’s far from a guarantee today.

Atalanta look at Liverpool forward Divock Origi

Per The Times, Atalanta’s interest in Origi hinges on Newcastle United. They’ll only move for the Liverpool man if the Magpies sign Duvan Zapata.

Zapata, who has 12 goals this season, is supposedly a target for Newcastle. Their move for Hugo Ekitike – an apparent alternative to Zapata – has broken down, making the Colombian an obvious target.

And if they do bid for Zapata in the next few hours, it appears likely that Atalanta will immediately respond by bidding for Origi.

Time will tell, then. Origi is a player who really should have more demand, given his record, but it sounds like there is a chance we see the 26-year-old leave Anfield.