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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Sean Bradbury

Liverpool stance on January transfers and how sales will be decided

Liverpool are not expecting any senior departures from the squad in January as things stand.

Premier League clubs will be able to do business again when the window opens on Saturday.

But the ECHO understands the club has not received any direct indication that any player wants to leave, with no major outgoings in the pipeline at this stage.

There has been plenty of speculation over the future of Divock Origi ahead of the new window.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been credited with an interest in the 25-year-old, along with several other sides across Europe.

Anfield sources insist there is no current push to sell the striker from the Liverpool end.

But there is an acceptance that he has been a loyal servant - and the club would not stand in his way if a satisfactory offer emerged.

It is a situation which could evolve in January with the player's own wishes, Liverpool's circumstances and market value all factors that may change the picture. A fee of around £20m could be enough to bring the Reds to the table.

And as the ECHO has previously reported, Origi moving on would free up an extra non-homegrown space in Liverpool's squad which may be needed should any foreign signings arrive.

Origi has not been injured so far this season yet has remained on the fringes.

He has played only eight minutes of Premier League action across three cameos from the bench, with other appearances restricted to cup competitions.

Xherdan Shaqiri is another attacking talent who Liverpool have previously indicated they would be open to selling.

But with Diogo Jota still sidelined due to a knee injury and the Swiss star now back in contention, his versatility and threat may be needed as the campaign progresses.

Shaqiri returned to the Reds team for his first sighting in seven weeks when he came on as a substitute in the 0-0 draw at Newcastle last night.

Speaking after the game, manager Jurgen Klopp said: "Shaq is back too, and that’s the best news tonight. The boys are back [Thiago and James Milner too] and as far as I know at the moment, nobody got injured tonight, which is a very important thing."

*Who was your Liverpool MOTM against Newcastle? Vote here.

Liverpool sources have already indicated that notable incomings are also unlikely in January.

Klopp is said to be content with his options at centre-back, despite Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all being unavailable at present.

Back in November, the Reds boss did not rule out January dealings in defence as he said: "We will see. I don't know what we can do in January to be honest, I have no idea.

"That we look for solutions, look at the transfer market, that is clear of course. But at the moment we have the situation we have." 

But Klopp has also spoken about the range of possible cover available to him - in addition to Fabinho, Rhys Williams, Nat Phillips and younger prospects.

In October, the German said: "We have other options like Henderson, or Gini (Wijnaldum) or James (Milner), or Robbo, he can play centre-half as well.

"They are all not smaller than Javier Mascherano, for example, and he played pretty well in that position (for Barcelona)."

It remains to be seen if circumstances - such as further injuries or players moving on - could make Liverpool consider a different approach next month.

But Anfield insiders maintain that any significant recruitment work going on at present would be mainly looking ahead to the summer window.

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