Liverpool have Divock Origi transfer plan with £31.5m replacement already identified

Liverpool will block any approaches they receive this month for Divock Origi, reports claim – despite already identifying his replacement. The Belgian attacker, who has already cemented his legacy as an Anfield legend following a series of iconic goals, is starting to attract interest in the January transfer window.

Clubs from Serie A and the Bundesliga are understood to have made approaches for Origi this month.

Yet it’s alleged interest from Newcastle and West Ham that has forced Liverpool to firm up their stance on a sale.

While Origi is not first-choice on Merseyside, he remains an important squad player for Jurgen Klopp.

The Mirror are now reporting that the Reds have decided to wait until the end of the season before potentially offloading Origi.

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Liverpool were prepared to sell Origi last summer but struggled to find a buyer for the 26-year-old.

The Reds had lined up West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen as a potential replacement for Origi.

Bowen is valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt and could be up for grabs this summer – although West Ham will value him closer to £50m based on this season’s performances.

Klopp has already made it clear that he is a big fan of Bowen earlier in the season.

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“I like Bowen a lot,” Klopp openly admitted. “He made his way up from Hull and took not too long to show exactly what kind of player he can be in the Premier League. He made big steps.”

Origi is now of additional importance following Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s departure to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Liverpool have also had a number of Covid concerns and injury problems in recent weeks that have put their squad depth to the test.

Takumi Minamino is currently struggling for fitness just when more opportunities may have arose for him.

Klopp will need no second invitation to rely on the heroics of Origi should he feel Liverpool need something different in attack in the coming weeks. He is definitely not for sale…