Fulham eyeing Liverpool's Divock Origi and are prepared to pay £15m for the forward

Belgian's first-team chances at Anfield are slim despite scoring the bizarre winning goal against Everton this season

Posted Sunday, January 06, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk

Fulham eyeing Liverpool's Divock Origi and are prepared to pay £15m for the forward
Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri is willing to splash £15m on Liverpool outcast Divock Origi

FULHAM boss Claudio Ranieri is ready to pay £15million for Liverpool striker Divock Origi.

Ranieri has been given money to strengthen his struggling side and hopes to agree a fee for Anfield fringe man Origi, 23, this week.

The Belgian scored a last-gasp winner in last month’s Merseyside derby at Anfield, but he will be allowed to leave if the deal is right as his first-team chances are slim.

Fulham will have to throw big money at Origi as he has other interested clubs on his trail — and the Cottagers, one off the foot of the Premier League table, are staring at relegation.

However, owner Shahid Khan is willing to spend again and will let Ranieri strengthen in four or five areas of his squad.

Fulham were also keen on Anfield right-back Nathaniel Clyne, but Bournemouth stepped in to sign him on loan, as SunSport revaled last week.

Liverpool insist they will not be spending this month, but Origi’s departure would leave them short up front after Dominic Solanke signed for Bournemouth.

Jurgen Klopp will also send attacking midfielder Ovie Ejaria, 21, out on loan after he returned from a spell with Steven Gerrard at Rangers.

Forward Ben Woodburn, 19, can find a new club too after seven games at Sheffield United.

The German gaffer explained the exodus of Reds' youngsters by saying abundance of talent in his squad would lead to limiting their game time, and blocking their development.

He said: "In future we want to sign young players, and keep young players here as well.

"But we don’t want to block them in the moment when, maybe, we can see something else could be better for them. That’s an important thing."

Adam Lallana could also be nearing an Anfield exit as Fenerbahce would reportedly like to benefit from Liverpool's midfield logjam and loan the England man out.