Lille President Plays Down Rumoured Divock Origi Departure

While there’s still been no official indication from Liverpool that they’re looking to bring on loan striker Divock Origi back to Anfield early, Lille’s president Michel Seydoux hasn’t been quite so mum on the topic.

There have been whispers of a recall since as early as October that the Reds will recall the struggling Belgian in January to not only try to reignite his development, but supplement their own faltering strike-force. The youngster, who after making a blistering start to the campaign has struggled for form, has already said that he’d be open to returning to Merseyside early, but if Seydoux has anything to say about it, he won’t be leaving the Stade Pierre-Mauroy anytime soon.

Although he seemed to choose his words rather carefully, the President of the Ligue One side was sure to make his point rather clear. “I have not received any official offer from Liverpool”, he told French media outlet La Voix du Nord when asked about the rumours linking Origi with an early exit. “There is nothing new to report at Lille, no new departures, no arrivals, just a loan return [in Abdoulay Diaby] and we will formalise that after the African Cup of Nations. For now, Divock Origi is at Lille and we’re counting on him.”

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has already dismissed talk of recalling the youngster, who he signed for a fee believed to be in the region of £10mil after he impressed at the World Cup, early, but rumours persist that the Anfield outfit is willing to pay up to €6mil end the loan agreement. With Daniel Sturridge set to finally return to the side later this month after a string of muscle injuries kept the England man sidelined for much of the season, Origi may not be as urgently needed on Merseyside as it appears, but that also depends on the future of both Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini, with the Italian pair linked with moves away from the club.