Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has ruled out cutting short short Divock Origi’s loan speall at Lille and bringing him back to Anfield. The Reds signed the forward for £10m in the summer and loaned him straight out to Lille.
However, due to Liverpool’s current lack of goals with Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert all failing to score and with Daniel Sturridge out injured, reports had claimed that Rodgers wanted the youngster back early from his loan and that he could be back at Anfield in January.
These reports have been denied with the Liverpool coach claiming that he will be staying in France until the end of his loan. He said: “What chance is there of bringing Origi in January? Well I don’t think there is any. That was never the case. The young player that we signed last summer was always on that understanding.
“There was no discussion about it, it was one where he had to stay at Lille. Obviously I’ve seen reports about him coming back early, but that was never ever the case. We signed the player, and that was one of the main reasons we signed him. He would have to stay at Lille for this season.
“The deal was in place quite clearly and simply in the summer that he will stay at Lille in the season and we would get him for next season. And as far as I am concerned at this point in time that’s still the case.”
He also added that injured striker Daniel Sturridge’s morale had hit an all-time low, after the Englishman was ruled out until the new year. The striker was expected to return this weekend but he will now remain on the sidelines. Brendan said: “Daniel’s just been extremely unfortunate. He’s a player who doesn’t want to be out for this length of time. He wants to play football.”
It means that for the time being, the Reds will have to hope that any one of their other three strikers finds form and starts banging in the goals.
By Charlie Gregory
Follow me on Twitter – @CharlieGreg15
