Origi return in January will not happen

Divock Origi will not be allowed to return to Liverpool midway through his season-long loan at Lille, despite Brendan Rodgers’ sides struggles to find the net.

Origi, 19, signed a six-year deal with Liverpool in the summer but was immediately loaned back for the season to Lille, the club where he had established his reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting talents.

With Mario Balotelli so far failing to fill the void left by Suarez’s £75 million summer departure for Barcelona and Daniel Sturridge hampered by injury problems, there had been speculation Liverpool could recall Origi, who has scored three times in 10 league outings for Lille this season.

But Lille coach Rene Girard says Origi will remain at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy until May, as initially agreed with Liverpool.

“It’s only a rumour. There have been no approaches, as far as I know. It was agreed that Divock spend the year with us. There’s no reason he should leave midway through the season,” Girard, who compared Liverpool’s problems in front of goal with his team’s own difficulties, told Belgian radio RTBF. “Us too – we really need him.”

On suggestions Balotelli could move the other way to compensate for Origi’s departure, Girard said: “The matter has never been raised.”


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