12:02

Wolfsburg have emerged as favourites to sign Divock Origi from Liverpool as the Anfield club close in on a £40m-rated deal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Origi was not included in the last two Liverpool matchday squads, for victories over Hoffenheim in the Champions League play-off second leg and Arsenal in the Premier League, and would have been allowed to join Monaco as a makeweight in a deal for Thomas Lemar.



However, with Monaco refusing to sell the France international and Liverpool focusing their efforts on signing Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal, Origi has been made available on loan to several European clubs and a move to Wolfsburg is now expected. The Bundesliga club are prepared to pay a sizeable loan fee to take the 22-year-old on a season-long deal.



The Belgium international has also been linked with transfers to Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United but Liverpool prefer a loan deal with a European club. They would not consider a loan deal for Origi with a Premier League rival such as Spurs.



Anfield officials have opened talks with Arsenal over Oxlade-Chamberlain and are expected to beat Chelsea to the England international’s signature, providing they match the offer on the table from Stamford Bridge. Arsenal accepted an offer of £35m plus £5m in add-ons from Chelsea for the 24-year-old, but he was reluctant to join the Premier League champions and favours a move to Merseyside to work with Jurgen Klopp.

