Why Liverpool’s Divock Origi will be going nowhere in the January transfer window amid Newcastle loan links

As the winter transfer window approaches, rumours and title tattle has surprisingly ramped up.

With January little more than a month away, it will offer clubs up and down the Premier League an opportunity to strengthen their squads, as well as allow players who are surplus to requirements to depart.

Liverpool's business will be intriguing given they brought in just Ibrahima Konate for £36 million from RB Leipzig in the summer.

Traditionally, Jurgen Klopp has been active at the midway stage and that might be the case again.

Then all eyes will be on whether there are any Anfield exits.

Magpies eye Origi swoop

One player who's been linked with a potential switch is Divock Origi.

The striker has been a peripheral figure on Merseyside for the past few seasons and has remained in such predicament this term.

So far, Origi has made just seven appearances throughout the campaign, scoring three goals.

Only two of his outings have been in the Premier League and he missed Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Arsenal because of illness.

Very much on the fringes at the Reds, Origi has been linked with a switch to Newcastle United in January.

The Northern Echo reports that Origi is regarded as a potential loan option.

New Magpies boss Eddie Howe has instructed the St James' Park hierarchy to recruit tried-and-tested top-flight performers in their bid to avoid relegation.

Origi's well behind Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota in the Liverpool pecking order and will only drop further when Roberto Firmino returns from his hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Klopp's pledged Takumi Minamino will get more games after he came off the bench to net against Arsenal.

That could leave Origi in the wilderness and that's a concern if he harbours ambitions of being included in Belgium's squad for next year's World Cup.

Klopp’s comments

However, Klopp's made his stance clear when it comes to potential January departures.

The German was asked about another fringe player, Neco Williams, in his Arsenal pre-match press conference.

Rob Page, the Wales manager, admitted he'd like to see Williams head out on loan and garner regular minutes to enhance his promising progress.

But when it came to the transfer window, Klopp responded frankly.

The Reds boss said: "We are really short of players. The last thing I’m thinking about is who could go on loan in the winter.

“I’ve said before, it’s not easy to be a first-choice player constantly at Liverpool, we have a really strong squad.

“But Neco is developing, Neco is improving, and that’s why Neco could play how he played for Wales. Not only against Belgium but as well against Belgium. That’s it.”

Surely, then, the same approach will be taken with Origi.

Much has already been made about Liverpool's dearth of attacking options. Many fans wanted another to be recruited in the summer.

Offloading one wouldn’t make much sense - especially given what is around the corner.

AFCON absences

The Reds are already preparing for a double hammer blow.

Salah and Mane will head off to the African Cup of Nations with Egypt and Senegal respectively at the end of December.

Both countries are expected to go far in the tournament and, according to The Athletic, the pair could miss six Premier League and two FA Cup games.

Unless Klopp does recruit in January then he'll need all of his troops available to cover that period in Salah and Mane’s absences.

Origi might not be of the ilk of the wing wizards but, on his day, he's a top talent. He's etched into Anfield folklore for a reason, having scored famous goals against Barcelona and Tottenham in the Champions League final.

There was also a surprise start for the ex-Lille forward in the 3-2 win against AC Milan in September, while he bagged in his last outing off the bench in the 3-2 loss to West Ham.

Perhaps in the summer, with his contract ticking down, Klopp will contemplate cashing in on Origi. He has two years left on his current deal.

But as Liverpool still fight for silverware on four fronts this season, it’s hard to fathom a departure at the halfway stage.