Divock Origi agrees new long-term Liverpool deal as Jurgen Klopp assures him of opportunities next seasonLiverpool’s Champions League hero Divock Origi has ended speculation about his future to sign a new long-term deal at the club.
Origi was entering the final year of his contract, but talks with Jurgen Klopp have convinced him he will enjoy plenty of game time in the season ahead.
The 24-year-old’s major concern was how much he would feature for the European champions, especially as he essentially plays a supporting role to Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.But Liverpool have six trophies to play for this season and Klopp sees Origi and youngster Rhian Brewster as being key striking options. The manager has guaranteed opportunities for the Belgian to progress his career, and that has been the deal breaker over the last few weeks.
Origi scored seven goals in 22 appearances for Liverpool last season, but five of them were the most celebrated in the recent history of the club earning him the reputation of a modern ‘supersub’.His position as a legend of the club is, in fact, already secure given his contribution to the historic success of 2019.
After a freakish Merseyside derby winner in December, Origi famously struck twice against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final when Liverpool overturned a 3-0 deficit, and his lethal finish in Madrid ended Tottenham Hotspur’s resistance in the final.
Origi also scored a crucial winner at Newcastle United which took the title race to the final day, albeit Manchester City held off Liverpool’s challenge.
It was inconceivable that would be the final act of his Anfield career given his age and the belief Klopp has in him.
Liverpool have not specified the length of the deal, or the value of the package, insisting game time rather than money was at the heart of negotiations. However, one detail has been made public – that Origi has no release clause in his new contract.
The youngster has had plenty of opportunities to leave Liverpool over the past year.
Sevilla, Roma, Bayer Leverkusen and Wolverhampton Wanderers were among those showing interest, and there were several loans bids rejected by Liverpool.Yet from the day he took over and selected Origi in his first match in charge, Klopp has always had faith in the striker’s ability. When appointed in 2015, Klopp singled out Origi as ‘a player we can have some fun with’ remarking on his pace, strength and finishing power.
For a while it seemed Origi would become a first pick, especially when he impressed on the run to the Europa League final in 2015.
But a marked improvement was halted by a serious ankle injury - sustained after a horror tackle by ex-Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori - and although he recovered physically it is only last year he has looked the same confident player.
Despite his heroics, Klopp will still demand further improvement to hit the consistent levels required.
Origi returned to pre-season training on Monday. He will be part of the squad featuring in the first warm-up fixture at Tranmere Rovers on Thursday where he is expected to play, although with a shortage of attacking options Klopp has called up Academy stars Paul Glatzel and Bobby Duncan, teenagers who fired Liverpool to the FA Youth Cup last season.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/07/10/divock-origi-agrees-new-long-term-liverpool-deal-jurgen-klopp/
