Jurgen Klopp has sent the clearest message yet that he would let Liverpool hero Divock Origi join West Ham in the January transfer window.
Like Liverpool, West Ham are flying high again this season and fighting on all fronts.
West Ham are the only team to have beaten Klopp’s mighty Reds in the last eight months after the scintillating 3-2 victory at the London Stadium last month.
Belgian striker Divock Origi scored late on in that memorable game but to no avail for Liverpool.
He was at it again on Saturday evening as he showed great composure to net a winner for Klopp’s side with the last kick of the game against Wolves.
Earlier in the day West Ham beat Liverpool’s title rivals Chelsea 3-2.
But David Moyes’s squad is starting to get stretched by injuries. Fans and pundits have highlighted concerns that the club’s failure to sign another striker in the summer could cost them dear if something was to happen to Michail Antonio.
West Ham have been heavily linked with Liverpool bit-part player Origi ever since selling Sebastien Haller to Ajax way back in January.
The Hammers were keen to sign the Belgian forward in the summer window according to club insider ExWHUemployee.
Many fans were excited at the prospect of signing Origi. And it is easy to see why. He is a lethal finisher and thrives on the big occasion.
But the forward’s appearance against Wolves was only his third top-flight outing of the season having been introduced with 20 minutes remaining.
Earlier this season Klopp spoke out about the lack of interest in Origi following a superb display in a 3-2 win over AC Milan.
The German said it showed that his rival managers ‘don’t watch enough football’ (BT Sport).
“(Divock) played a beautiful game. People forget how good he is, it’s difficult to get into this team,” Klopp told BT Sport.
“In the summer transfer window we all thought there would be a proper offer for him, but obviously people don’t watch football enough.
“He’s a sensational striker and he did really well today… He’s a great guy. He’ll be seen as a legend when he leaves. He could have left in the summer but football is a crazy place and people forgot how good he is.”
Jurgen Klopp sends clearest message yet he would let Liverpool hero Divock Origi join West Ham
Well now Klopp has sent the clearest message yet he would let the Liverpool hero join West Ham if Moyes remains interested with a striker a top priority for the Hammers in January.
“He is an incredible finisher and if we don’t know it at Liverpool then who should know it? We saw that so often,” Klopp said after the game (Liverpool Echo).
“It is difficult to get 500 minutes a week in the team because of the players we have. But Divock Origi is an incredible football player. He is great in these moments…
“If I would be in another club I would go for him. I thought that would happen because he didn’t have fantastic game time.
“But I cannot believe if you don’t play for Liverpool, you cannot be good. This team is outstanding, and if you are here and are number 12 or 13 or 14, you are outstanding…
“He’s an incredible striker, for different reasons he did not play that often but I hope one day he finds a manager that plays him more than I do.”
West Ham fans will be hoping that manager is Moyes and that day is January 1st.
Because with the Europa League last 16 on the horizon next year and West Ham pushing for fourth spot in the Premier League, someone like Origi could be the difference maker.