Barcelona are reportedly lining up a January move for Liverpool striker Divock Origi as they eye cost-effective reinforcements to their frontline.
According to a report from Catalan publication SPORT, Barcelona are keen on adding more firepower to their attacking department in the January transfer window and have identified several cost-effective options, including Liverpool ace Divock Origi.
The 26-year-old joined Liverpool in 2014 from LOSC Lille, spent the next year on loan at the French club before moving to Anfield in 2015. Origi never quite established himself as a regular with the Reds though and then spent another year on loan at VfL Wolfsburg in 2017/18 before getting another shot at Liverpool.
Origi, while still not being a regular, made vital contributions to the Merseyside giants’ UEFA Champions League success in 2018/19, which led to a contract extension. The following season, he chipped in with some important goals as Liverpool lifted the Premier League title but has continued to struggle for regular minutes.
Origi had been made available for a transfer during the summer window earlier this window, but there were no takers for the Belgian international, which seemingly left manager Jurgen Klopp baffled. Having stayed at Liverpool, he has made just four appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal and setting up two more.
Origi could, however, get an escape route from Anfield during the January transfer window, with Barcelona now eyeing a move for the Belgian international. The Catalans lost two big stars during the summer in the form of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann but failed to replace them adequately.
Memphis Depay has done fairly well since arriving but has lacked the same quality of support in the final third. Luuk de Jong has proven to be an uninspiring addition while Sergio Aguero is still to kick a ball and is expected to return to training only close to next month. With Martin Braithwaite also out injured, the Catalans could certainly do with another striker in their ranks.
Given the club’s financial situation, Barcelona are eyeing cost-effective options, preferably players whose contracts run out at the end of the season, which would make them available for a cut-price fee in January. And, Origi has emerged as one such options, along with Manchester United’s Edinson Cavani as well as Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne.
It remains to be seen who they do end up signing come January. But for now, Origi is very much an option on the radars of the Catalan giants.
