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Divock Origi has revealed that he is in regular contact with Brendan Rodgers, and says the Liverpool FC manager wanted to add him to his squad this summer.

The young Belgian forward was signed by the Reds from Lille in a £10m deal in July.

But under the terms of the transfer, he will remain in France this season, before finally moving to Merseyside next summer.

In the meantime, the 19-year-old has begun the campaign well, scoring four times in 11 appearances in all competitions so far.

And Origi says he regularly receives messages from Rodgers, with Reds scouts continuing to monitor his progress at Lille.

He said: “The Liverpool manager regularly sends me a text message. They follow me and scouts attend all my games.

“Rodgers wanted to add me to his squad immediately, but Lille wanted me to stay for 1 more season. I had no choice.

“It’s not that I don’t want to go to Liverpool, I have ambitions.

“But it’s an advantage I’m at Lille for a season where I can continue to develop and play a lot. That’s the positive side of the story.”

Liverpool’s slow start to the campaign, and the struggles of £16m newboy Mario Balotelli in particular, had led to suggestions from some quarters that Rodgers may look to accelerate Origi’s arrival on Merseyside.

Rodgers himself, though, has dismissed the possibility, and Origi believes Liverpool will have few problems without him this season in any case.

“Balotelli is a great player and Daniel Sturridge scored a lot of goals last season”, he added.

“On that level I do not think they will have a lot of problems.

“Of course it is nice that Rodgers wants me there though.”