It feels as though Divock Origi has been on the fringes at Liverpool for a lifetime, only ever used as a rotation option when the main attackers need a rest. The Belgian shows flashes of brilliance when he does get a chance, though, and has often popped up with vital goals for the Anfield outfit. Surely if Origi sought a move to a smaller club than Liverpool he could be the main man in attack and get regular top flight minutes.
Newcastle Could be an Option for Origi
With Newcastle’s newfound riches, they are expected to spend big in the January transfer window to avoid relegation and push on to success next season. There have been reports that Eddie Howe will be looking to target readymade Premier League players who are struggling for game time at their current clubs. The likes of Jesse Lingard, Donny van de Beek, and Dele Alli have all been touted as options to dig the Magpies out of the mire.
Origi may be looking at this news and contemplating a switch to the North East. This could be a good career move for the 26-year-old, who still has many years ahead of him. It’s unlikely that he wants to spend the rest of his career on the bench at Liverpool, but with the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mané, and Mohamed Salah to contend with, it’s hard to imagine a scenario when Origi would ever be a first-choice striker.
When Howe was at Bournemouth, he often deployed a 4-4-2 formation with Josh King and Callum Wilson as the double act as covered by NationalWorld. Wilson is already at Newcastle, but he needs a worthy strike partner to help him out with the goals. Origi could be that man, and the thought of the two sharpshooters lining up together is tantalizing.
Would Origi be Missed if he Left Liverpool?
The problem for Origi is the fact that his contract at Liverpool runs until 2023, and the club is likely to be reluctant to let him leave. Liverpool is one of the favorites to win the Premier League this term and can be backed at +400 with Marathonbet at the time of writing. These odds would be the same regardless of whether Origi was a Liverpool player or not, as the Reds’ title challenge relies on Salah, Mané, Firmino and Diogo Jota terrorizing teams. However, Klopp would like to keep Origi to deploy in other tournaments such as the FA Cup and Champions League, and as a late substitute in Premier League games.
There is also a strong chance that Liverpool will lose Salah and Mané to the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of 2022, and the team could be without them for up to four weeks. This means that Origi will be tasked with stepping in and scoring the goals in their absence.
Origi is at risk of failing to fulfill his potential if he continues to languish on the bench at Liverpool. A move to Newcastle would be ideal, but it doesn’t seem likely in the current climate. The Belgian may have to run his contract down at Anfield and then move somewhere in 2023.
