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Former Sunderland and England striker Kevin Phillips feels West Ham manager David Moyes is the right man to develop Divock Origi and help him become the player he should be.

Origi seems to have been around for ages but is still only 26 years old. His best years may still be ahead but they are unlikely to be with present club Liverpool. Signed as a teenager in the summer of 2014, the Belgium international was initially loaned back to Lille for one season.

He arrived at Anfield in July 2015 to much fanfare. But the pacey forward has never lived up to his billing and failed to nail down a regular starting berth.

He has to date made 100 Premier League appearances for the Reds but just 34 starts. The former Genk youth star has managed to bag 19 top-flight goals while hitting six for Wolfsburg on loan in 2017-2018.

However, he will always be remembered for his exploits in the 2018-19 Champions League. Origi scored twice as Liverpool came back from a three-goal deficit to beat Barcelona in the semi-finals.

And he was on the score sheet again as the Merseysiders beat Tottenham 2-0 in the final. He made just two starts among nine league outings last term and has been linked with a move away this summer.

It is thought the north-west giants want £20m for the Belgian and the Hammers are said to have opened talks. They were keen on Adam Armstrong but the 24-year-old has joined Southampton from Blackburn Rovers.

Wolves have also been linked. And Phillips feels Moyes should now push for Origi and believes the Scot can aid his progression.

“It’s clearly an area they need to strengthen. Michail Antonio can’t play every game of the season,” he told Football Insider. “If he’s injured, who plays? Origi has quality, the only concern is his consistency.

“I would like to think West Ham can get the best out of him, Moyes can get the best out of him.”

Origi labelled as impact player

Jurgen Klopp has rarely trusted Origi to start games over the years. He has been used from the bench and it certainly paid off against Barca.

But West Ham need a striker who can play week in week and out and provide regular goals. They have been linked with many players but have so far bought only defender Craig Dawson from Watford.

It would be a major surprise if the London Stadium outfit failed to bring in a new striker before the widow closes. Whether or not Origi is the answer only time will tell but he is one player who would excite the fans.

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