West Ham United reportedly retain an interest in Liverpool striker Divock Origi, although securing a move for him in the January transfer window will be difficult, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the story?

The 26-year-old was linked with a move to the London Stadium over the summer after finding first-team opportunities hard to come by with the Reds, although a formal offer never materialised.

Now though, with the winter window fast approaching, it's claimed that West Ham have a 'long-term interest' in Origi, but prising him away from Merseyside halfway through the current campaign will be a very difficult task.

O'Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: "There has been a long-term interest from West Ham in Origi. They tried to sign him after they lost Haller to Ajax. They do like him, but in the current market, I can't see Liverpool letting him go."

With both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane expected to be absent for around a month due to their participation in the African Cup of Nations throughout January, Origi could have a big part to play for Jurgen Klopp's title challengers.

West Ham fans will be elated

Although the likelihood of signing the Belgium international this season is low, the prospect of Origi joining the capital club at the end of 2021/22 will have the supporters buzzing with excitement.

Ever since Sebastien Haller joined Ajax last January, David Moyes' charges have been extremely lightweight up front.

Michail Antonio is West Ham's only recognised striker in the first-team squad, and although he's been in superb form for both club and country in recent months, some cover and competition is badly needed.

Therefore, Origi could prove to be the ideal acquisition. In 166 appearances for the Reds, the £60,000-per-week gem has bagged 39 goals and provided a further 16 assists for his teammates.

But it's his tendency to score hugely important strikes at key moments that have really endeared Origi to the 19-time English champions and cultivated him a reputation as a big-game player.

A brace against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final, a last-minute winner in the Merseyside Derby and the final effort in Liverpool's European Cup success have made him a fan's favourite at Anfield.

And he added to that illustrious list of goals over the weekend, coming off the bench to score a 94th-minute winner against Wolves, earning praise from his manager.

“It was clear: when you don’t score, you just have to keep going, and that’s what we did. And then Divock Origi, the legend, came and finished it off for us. I love it,” Klopp said via LiverpoolFC.com.

“He is an incredible finisher – if we don’t know it at Liverpool, who should know it then? We saw that so often.”

Only time will tell if the West Ham hierarchy act upon their interest in Origi next summer, but the club's supporters will surely be hoping they do, adding some much-needed firepower to Moyes' lightweight squad.

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