Divock Origi could be part of Liverpool transfer deal for Thomas Lemar Matt Law, football news correspondent
28 AUGUST 2017 • 10:30PM
Liverpool’s bid to sign Thomas Lemar could be boosted by Monaco’s interest in striker Divock Origi. Lemar has been the subject of two offers from Liverpool, the latest of which is £64.6million and the Anfield club want to tie up a deal before Thursday’s transfer deadline. Monaco have insisted all summer that Lemar is not for sale, but could find Liverpool’s offer too much to resist. And having agreed an extraordinary deal that will see Kylian Mbappe join Paris Saint-Germain on loan ahead of a £166m permanent transfer next summer, Monaco are in the market for strikers.
The Ligue 1 champions are one of 11 clubs interested in signing Origi either on loan or permanently after Liverpool indicated a willingness to let the Belgian go. Liverpool have told Origi he could be allowed to leave if the club make signings before the deadline, which has alerted interest from England, France, Italy and Germany. As well as Monaco, Origi is wanted by Marseille, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Inter Milan, Juventus, Sampdoria, Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool’s bid for Lemar makes Monaco slight favourites at this stage, while a move to Tottenham seems unlikely due to the two clubs being rivals for a top four finish in the Premier League. Origi was once again left out of the Liverpool squad for the 4-0 thrashing of Arsenal, having not even been on the bench for the Champions League qualifying victory over Hoffenheim.
The 22-year-old is yet to start a game this season and has only made one substitute appearance, in the 3-3 draw with Watford.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp remains a big fan or Origi, but understands the player’s desire for regular first-team football in a World Cup year.
After signing for Liverpool from Lille for £10million, Origi has scored 12 goals in just 21 Premier League starts and last season netted in five successive appearances in all competitions over November and December.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/08/28/divock-origi-could-part-liverpool-transfer-deal-thomas-lemar/