Juventus are lining up a move for £42.5m worth of Liverpool forwards, reckons Italian publication CalcioMercato.
English papers have picked up on it now, but while one half of the rumour makes complete sense to Liverpool, one half doesn’t.
The report suggests The Old Lady want both Belgian internationals Christian Benteke, signed for £32.5m last summer from Aston Villa, and Divock Origi, signed for £10m from Lille the summer before.
Benteke, for plenty of well publicised reasons, hasn’t settled in well on Merseyside. It’s largely not his fault, as he’s been expected to adapt to a brand of football which doesn’t naturally suit him, but it’s quite possible he’ll leave in the summer anyway.
Juventus sounds like a promising proposition for the player, as they’re automatics in the Champions League, perennial Serie A champions and one of the world’s biggest clubs. Liverpool would more than likely be more than happy to broker a deal for Benteke to move to Italy, but they’re not having Origi as well!
The 20-year-old has shot to prominence in recent months, putting in defining performances against Borussia Dortmund and Stoke, and he’s now very much part of any selection decision for Liverpool’s strongest side.
There’s no way after his recent improvement that Liverpool would consider selling Origi, who has the talent to become anything he wants to be.
We’re not sure our Italian colleagues who wrote this article are quite aware just how fond Liverpool and our fans are of the prodigal forward.
Still, if Juve make an acceptable offer for Benteke, a deal could possibly be done.