Brighton are among several Premier League clubs reportedly keen on signing Liverpool striker Divock Origi, but they already appear to be behind in the transfer race.
The Mirror reported that the Seagulls, along with Aston Villa, Fulham and Newcastle, are all interested in the Belgian marksman. However, Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur has claimed that Fenerbahce have stolen an early march on the English quartet by lodging enquiries with the Anfield club.
Konur added that the Merseysiders could be willing to accept a modest £14m fee for the 25-year-old, who is prepared to leave the Premier League champions to obtain more regular game-time elsewhere.
Origi wrote his name into Liverpool folklore in 2019 with two goals in their sensational 4-0 Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona and the clinching goal in their triumph over Tottenham in the final of that competition.
Having also scored a stoppage-time Merseyside derby winner that season, as well as a late winner against Newcastle during the Premier League title run-in, leading former England women’s team manager Phil Neville to hail him as a striker with “a taste for the big games” who “has made big contributions” in his time at Anfield.
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Despite those heroics, though, the Belgian has struggled to hold down a regular place in Jurgen Klopp’s first XI, having started only 11 league games in the past three seasons for the Reds, while some Liverpool supporters have doubts over whether he is good enough to be a part of the club’s long-term plans.
While Origi has struggled for first team minutes at Anfield, he still has a decent track record in major competitions, with 19 Premier League goals to his name, as well as scoring in the World Cup for Belgium as a teenager.
Neal Maupay was the only Brighton player to score more than five goals last season, so Graham Potter’s squad could certainly do with an injection of reliable attacking quality. Also, the Frenchman has only had a taster of Europa League football in his Saint-Etienne days and does not have the big-game experience that Origi can boast.
Considering that he cost £20m and the Belgian could be available for just £14m, the Liverpool man would seem like an excellent acquisition for the Seagulls if they can get him, although it seems that they need to get their skates on if Fenerbahce have already made the first move.
Brighton fans, how excited would you be if Origi comes to the Amex Stadium? Share your views in the comments section below!
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