Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Divock Origi Recall and Iker Casillas Rumours

Brendan Rodgers' hopes of recalling Divock Origi on loan in January have been quashed by Lille director Jean-Michel Vandamme, who says a winter exit is "impossible."

Liverpool signed Origi during the summer, only to loan him back to the Ligue 1 outfit for the entire season. Rodgers' attack has struggled—with Daniel Sturridge, Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert scoring one goal in a combined total of 13 Premier League matches, per WhoScored.

Origi, meanwhile, continues to set the French division and Belgian national team alight with five strikes in 11 appearances, noted by Jack Bezants of the Daily Mail. 

Reports suggest Rodgers wants to recall his young forward, per Anthony Chapman of the Express, but Vandamme has firmly shot that possibility down. "It’s impossible. He will stay here until June," said the Lille chief, per Bezants' report.

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Football writer Kristof Terreur indicated a mutual agreement would need to be made for the player to head back to Anfield early:

Origi's performances have really pushed on since the World Cup. He is developing a maturity to his game and looks to be utilising his natural attributes wisely. The 19-year-old is powerful, pacey and a potential match-winner, noted below:

Player	Apps.	Goals	Assists	Shots (per game)	Dribbles (per game)	Pass Completion
Divock Origi	4 (3)	3	1	1.3	1.3	78.8%
Daniel Sturridge	3	1	0	4.3	2.3	78.1%
Mario Balotelli	4 (1)	0	0	4.6	0	73.6%
Rickie Lambert	1 (5)	0	0	0.7	0	75.6%

The aforementioned stats highlight Origi as the most efficient and least wasteful player when compared to Liverpool's strikers. He has taken his opportunities to score, and without his attacking input, Lille would be nine points worse off in Ligue 1, per WhoScored. Encouragingly, Origi has begun to unlock his creative side, noted by the same website:

It looks as if Rodgers will have to go without until the summer, however. Many Liverpool fans will have always counted the signing of Balotelli as a mistake, but the inability to tie up a deal which would see Origi immediately at Anfield could be considered the biggest oversight of the season.

Indeed, football writer Jonathan Wilson told B/R UK's Ryan Bailey that Origi should be outlined as one of the best teenage prospects in football, alongside Raheem Sterling:

Rodgers is always looking to improve, however, and will be in good spirits ahead of the starlet's return next summer. Prior to this moment, the boss could aid Liverpool's goalkeeping situation with a bid for unwanted Real Madrid stopper Iker Casillas, per Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star.

Simon Mignolet has failed to impress this campaign and was recently told to "be aggressive" by his manager, reported by Sky Sports. The Belgian lacks the assertiveness to dominate his box from crosses and appears timid behind his centre-backs.

Such analysis had led to constant reports that Liverpool will opt to sign free agent Victor Valdes, but an offer was recently denied by the former Barcelona player's agent. "Neither Brendan Rodgers nor Liverpool have ever made us this proposal, at any time," said Gines Carvajal, per CADENA Cope and via Sky Sports.

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Casillas would represent an older, more expensive option to his international team-mate. The under-fire Madrid 'keeper has received jeers from his own fans this season and was recently dropped from the Spanish national team after making key mistakes in the loss to Slovakia.

He appeared to lose major confidence after being left out of Los Blancos' line-up by Jose Mourinho and has failed to rediscover his form in the two seasons after. Spending out for Casillas seems unnecessary at this point, particularly when Rodgers could pick up Valdes without needing to pay a transfer fee.

Right now, many will be wondering whether letting Pepe Reina leave was a smart choice, after all.

Rodgers' future options appear bright—with Origi returning and the prospect of a world-class 'keeper coming in—but the Northern Irishman will be frustrated by his team's start to the season.

Liverpool aren't playing with the verve and unrelenting confidence of the side who finished second last year, a problem they must quickly sort out if Champions League football is to be gained for a second consecutive campaign.

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Sunday's trip to Queens Park Rangers is a must-win tie for both teams—Liverpool are currently ninth while the hosts sit bottom—so it will be interesting to see how the Reds shape up after the international break.

Should the strikers continue to fail scoring and Origi consistently find the net, Rodgers may wish to up the ante further when trying to recall the potential Liverpool star.