Liverpool are insisting Divock Origi cannot join Borussia Dortmund on loan without an obligation for the German club to buy the striker.

Dortmund remain in talks over a deal to sign Origi before the end of August, with the Germans trying to make a breakthrough.

Liverpool’s initial £27million valuation was considered too high by Dortmund, who would prefer to take the Belgian on a season-long loan.

But, with just two years remaining on Origi’s contract, Liverpool will only loan out the 23-year-old if there is an agreement Dortmund buy him at the end of it.

Liverpool do not want to allow Origi’s value to drop, along with his contract, while he is playing elsewhere and leave open the prospect of him returning with only 12 months left on his deal next year.

Having initially wanted to sell Danny Ings for £24m this summer, Liverpool eventually allowed him to join Southampton on loan ahead of a pre-agreed permanent move worth £18m plus £2m add-ons.