AC Milan look set to complete their first signing of the summer transfer window as Liverpool man Divock Origi will join the Serie A champions as a free agent. The move will see Origi put his 8-year tenure as a Reds player to an end as Milan seek to bolster their forward options.
The likes of Rafael Leão, Olivier Giroud, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped to fire Milan to their first Scudetto in over a decade in the season just gone by. However, with Leão linked with a move to La Liga Champions Real Madrid and Giroud and Ibrahimovic ageing, adding a 27-year-old Origi, with many peak years left ahead of him, could be a wise move.
Milan director Paolo Maldini this morning confirmed the club are in “talks with Origi” and he believes the negotiations are proceeding “really well.” After living in the shadow of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mané in recent years, the prospect of living in the spotlight in Milan will excite Origi. That said, he’ll have fond memories of his time at Liverpool, a club where he has become a true cult hero.
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It's unlikely Jurgen Klopp will actively look to replace Origi. While he is often trusted to grab a goal for Liverpool when they need it most in the dying embers of games, their quality in depth in attacking areas, which has limited Origi’s playing opportunities in recent times, leaves Liverpool well prepared for life after the Belgian’s departure.
It thus seems likely Origi will never don the red shirt of Liverpool again. The Belgium international has picked up a muscle injury which prevented him from featuring against Wolves on the final day of the season. He also looks set to miss the Champions League final. Nevertheless, his goal in the 2019 final to put Spurs to bed and make sure of Liverpool’s victory will never be forgotten by the Anfield faithful. A proper cult hero who will be missed.
Featured Image Credit: ShuttershockTopics: Divock Origi, Liverpool, Transfers, AC Milan