According to the latest reports, Premier League giants Liverpool are all set to offer a contract extension for Belgian superstar Divock Origi in the upcoming few weeks after his impressive displays in limited game time this season. This has come as a quite a surprising factor of news considering that the Belgian was set to leave the club last summer.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool is currently enjoying one of the best seasons in the Premier League ever since the club was formed back in 1892. The Reds currently sit at the summit of the English table two points clear of 2nd placed Manchester City at the moment. Although Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City still have a game in hand, Liverpool has done exceptionally well to remain in contention for the Premier League title race until now. Manchester City stormed their way to the Premier League title last season and broke multiple records in the process amassing a staggering 100 points but Liverpool is ensuring that the title race for this season goes right down to the wire.
The Reds also made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and now have taken one step into the semi-finals of the competition after beating FC Porto 2-0 in the first leg of the tie at Anfield. Despite, the attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah not being at their fluent best this season they have still contributed immensely and at crucial intervals during the course of the term. Klopp now wants to think of the next season as well and by not trying to spend big on summer signings, the German wants to keep hold of some players whose contracts are close to expiring.
One player who has been a bit part player this season for Liverpool has been Divock Origi. The 23-year-old forward was heavily linked with a move away from Anfield over the past two transfer windows with the club looking to sell him to Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer in a £22m deal. However, the center-forward has been chosen ahead of the pecking order in the line that contains Daniel Sturridge and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Origi has mainly been used as a backup striker if one of the star front three players gets injured or misses out due to suspension. The Liverpool man grabbed headlines when he came off from the bench in the Merseyside derby against Everton back in December scoring a late winner to earn Liverpool a very important three points to remain in the hunt for the Premier League title. But despite being linked with a move away from the club over the past few months, Liverpool is set to offer the young attacker a new deal surprisingly which would extend his stay at Anfield. Origi has now been involved in nine of Liverpool’s last 11 games also making key contributions in tight games.
The report claims that Klopp has been hugely impressed by Origi’s attitude and application considering the peripheral situation that he was once in. Origi’s current contract with Liverpool expires next summer but a new deal could see him remain at the club as a stand-in for one of the big three forwards.