Liverpool pegged Divock Origi as a future Anfield hero when it bought him last summer, but his recent form has prompted speculation that he should be a present-day star for the Reds.
On Thursday, Lille director Jean-Michel Vandamme quashed rumors about Origi ending his loan spell at Lille earlier than expected and joining parent club Liverpool in January.
“It’s impossible. He’ll stay here until June,” Vandamme told Sky Italia, according to talkSport.
Liverpool signed Origi from Lille in July for around £10 million ($17 million). The Reds then loaned the teenager back to the French club so he could continue to develop and play regular games in a familiar environment. The plan is for Origi to finally move to Liverpool after the 2014-15 season and try to fulfill his vast potential at Anfield.
Origi, 19, has continued to progress, scoring four goals in 12 games with the French club and one goal in three games with Belgium’s national team this term. Citing the combination of Origi’s form and potential and Liverpool’s trouble scoring goals, some are calling on the Reds to summon the forward back from Lille as a mid-season reinforcement.
Last summer, the two clubs struck an agreement over Origi’s near-term fate. Since Vandamme knows the details of the loan agreement better than we do, we can only assume that Origi is staying put for now.
