Aston Villa line up ambitious offer for 25-year-old Liverpool hero

Aston Villa want Liverpool hero Divock Origi.

MailOnline journalist Ollie Lewis has written that Villa are planning a raid for the Belgian as they hope he’ll supply to goals to move them up the table.

Dean Smith’s side suffered from a paucity of options last season and were forced to sign Mbwana Samatta from Genk in January. He scored one goal.

With Wesley still on the treatment table for his horrible knee injury, Divock Origi would be tasked with leading the line for Aston Villa – who survived relegation on the final day of the season.

The Champions League and Premier League winner turned his Liverpool fortunes around and will forever be regarded as a cult hero due to his strikes against Everton and his habit of hitting late, game winning goals.

Origi was rewarded with a five-year deal last season but has failed to deliver on his promise. Four goals and three assists from 28 appearances don’t really tell the whole story of frustrating inconsistency.

Perhaps the Belgian was never going to be good enough, long-term, for Liverpool. But he’s still learned his football under some great coaches and can leave a much improved player.

The arrival of Takumi Minamino has put his place in the side under more threat than it’s ever been before, as has the progression of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.

Minamino looks far more comfortable through the middle, as does Origi, but with them both in the squad there’s little room for minutes to be shared.

There’s no doubt that Origi is good enough to lead the line for Aston Villa – and many other Premier League clubs – but with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah in the squad he’s never going to get regular minutes.

Would fans be glad to see the back of the Belgian? Possibly, if the money was reinvested in the squad. He’s earned cult hero status and the chance to stay at Anfield for as long as he wants.