Leeds United can’t afford to turn their nose up at chance to bring Liverpool striker Divock Origi to Elland Road, according to former Whites player Noel Whelan.
The Belgium international had a big impact on the Reds’ march to a sixth Champions League triumph in 2019 with his heroics in the semi-final and final helping Jurgen Klopp’s men win the trophy.
That aside, Origi has struggled to grab a regular starting place in the Liverpool side over his six seasons at Anfield with the striker on the substitute’s bench most of the time.
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The 25-year-old has only made six starts in all competitions this season despite the poor form of some of the Reds’ front three.
That has led to rumours he will leave this summer with Football Insider claiming last week that ‘a bid of as little as £12m could be enough to persuade Liverpool to sell’ with Borussia Dortmund understood to be interested.
On hearing the Reds latest asking price for Origi, Whelan thinks Leeds United could do a lot worse than pursuing in the Liverpool striker.
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.
“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.”
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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