Former Liverpool striker Divock Origi has been urged to make a sensational return to Anfield after it was confirmed he is set to become a free agent in January. The Belgian initially signed for the Reds over a decade ago in 2014, but was immediately loaned back to former club Lille for the 2014/15 season, before eventually joining up with his new teammates the following summer.
However, he later underwent surgery on a knee injury in 2016 and struggled to get back up to speed under Jurgen Klopp. He spent the 2017/18 campaign on loan in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg, before returning to finally kickstart his Liverpool career.
Although Origi was never a regular starter for the Reds, he ultimately amassed over 170 appearances across all competitions for the club. He scored 41 goals and registered 17 assists, with some of those strikes proving era-defining.
Of course, the first that springs to everyone’s mind is his goal against Tottenham in the Champions League final. He came off the bench to rifle home a crucial strike to make it 2-0 and secure the club’s first triumph in the competition since 2005.
He was also on the scoresheet twice in the second leg of the semi-final against Barcelona, which ensured Klopp’s men even made it to the final. Origi opened the scoring less than 10 minutes into the match at Anfield, before connecting with an ingenious quick corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold to score the winner on aggregate.
Origi eventually departed Liverpool as a free agent in the summer of 2022, joining Serie A giants AC Milan. He has made a little over 30 appearances for the club across all competitions, and spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan back in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest.
After returning to Italy in 2024, he was banished and made to train with the youth team in a bid to force him out. He has not featured since before his loan spell, and reports now suggest his contract is set to be ripped up ahead of the January window.
That’s according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, who says the 30-year-old has signed his contract termination and will be without a club from January. Unsurprisingly, a number of Liverpool fans responded to the news with calls to bring the striker back to Anfield – albeit many of the shouts were likely made in jest.
“Bring him home,” was a common response from supporters to Romano’s latest update on the striker’s future. “Some scripts just write themselves” another said.
“Bring him back. I’ve never been more serious. January’s round the corner and Isak’s out for a while. Win No. 7 in Budapest,” one fan commented. Another added: “One last dance?”
View 2 ImagesDivock Origi has struggled for form since joining AC Milan from Liverpool.(Image: Sportinfoto/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
It’s worth noting that a stop-gap approach is not one Liverpool’s hierarchy tend to take. Origi also hasn’t played competitive football since his loan at Forest, meaning his fitness would likely take months to build, which isn’t particularly conducive to a signing needed to make an instant impact on a short-term basis.
Still, Arne Slot‘s squad is in desperate need of reinforcements in January following the recent injury sustained by record-signing Alexander Isak. The club confirmed on Monday that the Sweden international has undergone surgery on an ankle injury, which includes a fibula fracture, following the challenge made by Spurs defender Micky van de Van after Isak scored in Saturday’s win.
With Mohamed Salah facing an uncertain future at the club, as well as the fact he is also away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool’s attacking depth is looking painfully thin. Cody Gakpo has been sidelined in recent weeks due to injury and is closing in on a return, but currently Hugo Ekitike remains Liverpool’s only available forward option fully trusted by head coach Slot.
Liverpool have been linked with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, but so too have the rest of the top six, and competition for his signature is fierce. It remains to be seen whether any moves are made in January, but it cannot be argued that the need isn’t there.