Liverpool face pressure to play Divock Origi before the end of the season after a transfer failed to materialise. The Reds have a decision to make.
Divock Origi remains a Liverpool player – but for how long? The striker didn’t leave the club on transfer deadline day despite talk that he would.
Perhaps the strongest talk on the day surrounded a move to Atalanta. The Times claimed the Bergamo side would move if Newcastle United bid for Duvan Zapata. That never happened, however, and there didn’t appear to be any other serious suitors.
It’s a surprise to us. Origi’s a very good player with a record that belies his lack of opportunities. He’s not a player who needs consistency in order to deliver goals, which suggests he’d be a wonderful plug-and-play signing for certain sides.
But perhaps his contract is the ‘answer’ here. It’s a complicated situation that might see those potential suitors bank on securing him for free.
Divock Origi remains with Liverpool
Per the Athletic, Origi’s contract expires at the end of the season. There’s a clause in there, however, that triggers an extra year if the Belgian plays enough games.
Thus Liverpool will feel pressure to use Origi over the rest of the season. They’ve only given him 38 Premier League minutes up to now but there’s real money on the line here.
If Jurgen Klopp opts not to utilise Origi, he’ll leave the club for nothing come July. Give him games here and there, though, and Liverpool get one final opportunity to sell him in the transfer window.
In truth, there’s no correct answer here. Liverpool don’t appear to believe Origi is good enough to consistently deliver in a title race, while Luis Diaz’s arrival limits his opportunities further.
Sticking to that belief almost certainly costs them millions comes the summer, however.
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