Bielsa told Leeds can’t afford to miss deal to sign bargain Liverpool man
Leeds have been told they should be all over a deal to sign Divock Origi amid claims he is being allowed to leave for a cut-price fee this summer.
The 25-year-old forward has struggled for game time again this season, making just two Premier League starts. His hopes of action have been futher hampered by the return to fitness of Diogo Jota – who has jumped straight in to the XI in recent games. Jota has benefitted from Roberto Firmino’s absence, leaving Origi to once again settle for a bench spot.
Relegation threatened Newcastle were recently linked with a move for the Belgian, who looks certain to quit Anfield. Reports on Tuesday, meanwhile, suggested he was a target for Inter Milan.
However, Leeds were also on his trail last summer and pundit Noel Whelan thinks he’d be a good signing for Marcelo Bielsa.
Furthermore, at the apparent £12m asking price, Whelan says United ‘can’t afford to miss’ the opportunity.
Whelan told Football Insider: “I think we’ve got to keep our options open. Divock Origi for £12-15m, would you turn your nose up at that? No, you wouldn’t.
“He can play a number of roles, left side, right side, through the middle. You’ve got to look at these things seriously. It’s not a lot of money. It’s so cheap. You could maybe go out and get two strikers if he’s available at that price.
“We need options, especially attacking ones. We know Bielsa likes players who can be versatile and we know Origi is that.
Origi: Instinct was to stay at Liverpool
Divock Origi says his instinct told him to stay at Liverpool when he was deciding his future at the end of last season.
“Like a potential Harrison deal, it’s not much of a risk. You’re not breaking the bank and you know what you’re getting. He knows the Premier League.
“He’s a good age and we play a style of football that will suit him because it’s similar to Liverpool’s.”
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Origi comes clean on Klopp conversations
Speaking in December, Origi admits he has had conversations with Klopp about his future at the club.
“For me it is always about evolving and where that progression ends we don’t really know,” Origi told the Daily Telegraph.
“I worked off my gut feeling and my gut feeling was to stay. When I make a decision, I just go with it. If I start doubting something, it is not good.
“We had discussions with the club and obviously there were some other talks, internally with the management. But to grow my career, I knew what I needed to do. I just had to go back to that feeling. It was generally just me making the decision.”
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