Liverpool reportedly told not to try swap deal including Divock Origi for Junior Firpo

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Liverpool will be unable to engineer a swap deal between Divock Origi and Junior Firpo, according to Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo.

They report that the Belgian hitman is on Real Betis radar after his sizzling end to the season, but they remain unconvinced about his ability to produce goals over the course of a season.

Meanwhile, Betis is the home of Junior Firpo, who the Reds are apparently keen to bring to Anfield in order to replace departing Spaniard Alberto Moreno.

But the report says that Betis will not even consider allowing Firpo, or any of their other top players, to leave for a reduced fee in return for the sweetener of Origi coming in.

Origi was brought in for a reported £10 million (BBC) during Brendan Rodgers’ reign but it was only last season when he really came to the fore with important goals, including in the Champions League semi-final and final.

But even then, he only has a year left on his contract and is unlikely to force his way past Roberto Firmino as the first-choice striker, so may have been seen as a handy little makeweight if it helped get Firpo through the door on a reduced deal.

In truth, if Betis were mad keen on Origi, there’s a chance they’d consider the deal but they seem to see him as just one of a few options at this stage and with that in mind, they’re right not to let Firpo go cheaper as part of a player plus cash deal.