:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64037920/1153196191.jpg.0.jpg)
A year ago, Liverpool were actively shopping Divock Origi but the striker preferred to stay at Anfield and gamble on making a first team breakthrough. Six months ago it appeared that effort had failed and West Ham came calling—but again Origi stayed.
To say his gamble paid off would be an understatement, for both the club and player, and it’s clear Liverpool wouldn’t now have their sixth European Cup if the 24-year-old Belgian had chosen differently. And now, he’s set to stay for at least one more year.
That’s according to ESPN’s Melissa Reddy, who says even if Origi doesn’t agree a new deal before the season starts—his current contract runs through the summer of 2020—the club intend to keep him for the coming season as a wing and striker option.
In the meantime, talks on signing Origi to a new extended deal will continue, though if one were to read between the lines it might not be a stretch to suggest that the player might hold off on signing it until he knows how big his role at the club will be.
In total, Origi made 21 appearances last season and scored seven goals and one assist—with his three Champions League goals, in the definition of clutch, coming on just three shots near the end of Liverpool’s European campaign.