Reports by Gol Digital earlier in the week claimed that Newcastle United are considering a move to sign Divock Origi, and Mike Ashley should be sanctioning a summer swoop to land the Liverpool striker who broke Rafa Benitez’s spirits in 2019.

Origi is potentially set to hit the transfer market at the end of the season after enduring a challenging campaign at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp frequently opposed to unleashing the Belgium international.

The 25-year-old has only started six of his 17 appearances across all competitions, while left an unused substitute in 18 fixtures and omitted from seven matchday squads to date.

Liverpool are understood to see Klopp’s position on Origi as justification to part ways with the £60,000-per-week forward three years before his deal lapses, as he is unlikely to occupy a key role in the German’s plans going forward.

Interest in Origi is expected to be vast given his age and experiences, including his goals in the 2018/19 Champions League semi-final with FC Barcelona that started and completed an unlikely comeback from 3-0 down on aggregate.

La Liga side Real Sociedad are noted to be weighing up a move but face strong competition from the Premier League, with Newcastle plus Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers also keen.

Origi allegedly hopes that any move away from Merseyside in the off-season will see that he is given a chance to be the lead striker of his new side, having never had that opportunity in six seasons at Anfield.

Football Insider claim that bids of just £12m will be considered by Liverpool, having failed to find any suitors willing to pay £20m in January.

Borussia Dortmund have additionally been touted as a potential destination for Origi, with the Bundesliga outfit one of a clutch of sides tracking his situation ahead of the summer market.

The chances of Newcastle meeting Liverpool’s demands for Origi may be in doubt with the St. James’ Park natives expected to operate on a shoestring budget this summer, with loans and free transfers likely to be the flavour of the month.

But Ashley should dig deep into his pocket to acquire the LOSC Lille product, as whoever is in charge of the Toon next term – be it Steve Bruce or someone new – will need a higher calibre forward to rival with 10-goal top-scorer Callum Wilson.

Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle are both out of contract in June and have rarely offered a consistent goal threat in the north east, with the former striking home just once in 41 games since his return in 2019 and the latter only hitting 11 in 66 Premier League outings.

Origi has proven that he can score on the biggest stage, Barcelona have the nightmares to show that, while also striking Belgium’s only goal in a 1-0 win over Russia during the 2014 World Cup.

The Oostende-born forward once had the better of Benitez during the Spaniard’s time in charge at St. James’ Park, too, when Origi broke the Toon’s spirits with a late header to seal a 3-2 win and keep Liverpool in the mix for the 2018/19 Premier League title.

Newcastle had twice come from behind in their final home game of that season in search of what would have been a famous and rare result in modern meetings between the two clubs, with Salomon Rondon constantly proving a handful for the visiting Reds.

But their hopes were destroyed by Origi, and whoever sits in the United hot seat next term would surely like to have a striker capable of such an impact at their disposal.

AND in other news, Newcastle face a global battle to land a £8.5m striker with 18 goals in 26 league games this term…