Newcastle United have reportedly been handed a boost in their pursuit for Liverpool striker Divock Origi as Liverpool set a bargain £7 million valuation.
According to The Telegraph, Liverpool striker Divock Origi has surfaced on a four-man shortlist of attacking targets Newcastle United are considering after receiving a boost over the price-tag Liverpool have set.
Newcastle’s transfer window is finally underway, with Kieran Trippier officially unveiled as the first signing under the new ownership. And this could be followed by the potential signing of a central defender, which has been the priority for the Magpies heading into the January transfer window.
However, with top scorer Callum Wilson set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury, the club are desperately scouring the market for a new centre-forward in an effort to beat the drop. Even then, keeping aside the former Bournemouth man’s fairly worrying injury record, there has been an over-reliance on him to produce the much-needed goals.
Newcastle have recently been linked with a move for Arsenal’s prospect Eddie Nketiah. The 22-year-old has displayed plenty of promise, but pinning their hopes of consistent goals on a young striker is a tad too risky, which is why they are keeping their options open. And, now a Liverpool’s fringe star Divock Origi has emerged as an alternative on the Toons radar.
On the books of Liverpool since 2014, Origi has decent top-level experience with the Merseyside outfit, having featured in 168 competitive games for the Reds, notching up 40 goals and 16 assists along the way. The former Lille star, though, has failed to establish himself as a regular starter at Liverpool, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Diogo Jota ahead of him in the pecking order.
Despite this, the Belgium international has been a cult hero at the club and developed a reputation for scoring crucial goals as a super-sub, most famously scoring the second goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League final.
It is understood that Liverpool will not stand in the Belgian’s way if he expressed the desire to leave Anfield, and would be open to a sale for as little as £7 million, even though the Reds will be missing star strikers Salah and Mane due to their participation in the ongoing African Cup of Nations.
The Belgian striker was made available for a move away last summer, but his hefty wage packet became an obstacle. He has been a subject of serious interest from several Italian clubs, with Lazio and Juventus eyeing swoops this January. However, the Belgium international is keen to stay in England and the Premier League.
And Newcastle are one of the few English clubs linked with signing the 26-year-old. Origi will add some additional firepower, and his versatility to play across the frontline could be handy. Moreover, at a cut-price £7 million deal, he would be a bargain signing for the Magpies. It remains to be seen whether the Tyneside-based club would step up their interest in the ex-Lille forward.
