Why Aston Villa should go back in for Divock Origi
A report by Birmingham Mail back in September 2020 linked Aston Villa with a move for Liverpool forward Divock Origi. The move never happened and Origi stayed put at Liverpool at the end of the transfer window.
Profile
Divock Origi was born in April 1995 and joined LOSC Lille’s youth academy in 2010 after spending 9 years with the development team of KRC Genk in Belgium. Origi made his debut for the senior Lille team in 2013.
Despite not having a deadly goal-scoring rate in Ligue 1, a goal for Belgium in a 1-0 win over Russia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup earned him a move to Premier League side Liverpool. Origi was loaned back to Lille for the 2014/15 season.
He has settled for his role as a benchwarmer at the Merseyside club where he hasn’t been able to get consistent starts. The Belgian was loaned out to VfL Wolfsburg in 2017 for a year but failed to impress there. He currently plays for the Reds and has had 29 caps for the Belgian national side. (h/t transfermarkt)
Divock Origi will add depth to the Aston Villa attack
Aston Villa currently have just one fit experienced striker, and that is their new summer signing Ollie Watkins. While Watkins has hit the ground running this season with his goals and assists, Villa have lacked cover for him.
Striker Wesley is sidelined due to a long-term injury which leaves Keinan Davies as the only real backup for Watkins on the Villa bench. Davies has just 4 top-division starts to his name and has been used by Villa as a substitute.
On top of it, Villa been overly dependent on Watkins and Jack Grealish for their goals. The duo has scored 11 of the 21 goals Villa have netted this season. In such a situation, someone like Divock Origi could chip in with goals and ease the burden on Watkins.
Origi has been utilised as a substitute by Liverpool in more than half of the 146 appearances he has made for the Reds. During that time, he has scored 35 goals, averaging a goal every 175 minutes for his team.
No one can forget the important goals he has scored for Liverpool too. His goals in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Barcelona and final against Tottenham Hotspur in 2019 showed that he can step up when the pressure is on. With 92 Premier League appearances, he is also not a stranger to the English top-divison.
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Verdict
A striker with the pedigree and experience of Divock Origi might suit Dean Smith’s side if used right. Villa can use him as a competitor for Ollie Watkins or can even start the two together up front, which will offer a new dynamic to their attack.
Origi’s contract at Liverpool expires in the summer of 2024. However, the striker being a benchwarmer at Liverpool might help Villa’s cause if they do decide to get him. Signing him would be a wise move that would only help the Villans’ aspirations this season.
