Belgium striker Divock Origi has held talks with Liverpool over a proposed move to Anfield but a deal still remains some way off.
It is understood the 19-year-old, who impressed at the World Cup, met with Reds officials and manager Brendan Rodgers at the club’s Melwood training ground yesterday (Wednesday) but negotiations are continuing and as yet no medical has been scheduled.
A fee, believed to amount to about £10million (Dh63m) in total, has already been agreed with his club Lille but a reported approach from Tottenham may yet prove a stumbling block.
However, Liverpool’s interest has been long-standing and they remain in pole position to secure the services of the talented youngster.
Origi was non-committal on his future when asked during an event in his home town of Houthalen- Helchteren staged to recognise his performances in Brazil.
“I myself am still thinking about it,” he said. “It is true that there are offers from all over Europe. Now I have to look carefully where I will grow as a player and as a person.
“I think things will be clearer within two weeks at the most.”
The transfer of Benfica winger Lazar Markovic is much more advanced with the Serbia international expected on Merseyside in the next 36 hours to finalise his move.
Having triggered the 20-year-old’s release clause of £20million (Dh126m) Markovic is heading to Merseyside for a medical and is likely to become manager Rodgers’ fourth signing of the summer after Southampton duo Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana and Bayer Leverkusen’s Emre Can.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have announced the signing of midfielder Mario Pasalic from Hajduk Split.
The 19-year-old, who was named in Croatia’s provisional 30-man World Cup squad, joined Jose Mourinho’s squad for their first pre-season training session yesterday. “I am very happy because I am now a Chelsea player,” Pasalic told Chelsea’s official club website.
“I am very impressed by the training ground and I must thank everybody at Hajduk. This is now a new start in my career. I am a central midfielder, my favourite player is Frank Lampard, and so I am very happy to be a Chelsea player.”
Pasalic completed his first full campaign in senior football last season, scoring 11 times in 36 appearances in all competitions and helping Hajduk finish third in the Prva HNL, Croatia’s top tier.
