According to Liverpool legend Michael Owen, Divock Origi signing a new contract and Takumi Minamino’s January arrival stopped Liverpool from signing Chelsea new boy Timo Werner.

Liverpool were strongly linked with a transfer for Werner but the German international joined Chelsea instead.

Owen told Premier League Productions: “Will Origi and Takumi Minamino be there next season? Yes they will.

“Origi’s just signed a new contract and Minamino’s only just signed. They are there and they’re fixed but that doesn’t mean you can’t question whether they should be.

“Origi signing a new long-term deal was almost Liverpool…they were loyal to him weren’t they?

“He’d done what he’d done [in the Champions League] and all of a sudden they they thought he’s done that so you have to give them a new contract.

“That’s now prevented them from going and spending big money on a back-up striker.

“Timo Werner was obviously a player that Liverpool were linked to and he’s eventually gone to Chelsea. I think that type of player would have been brilliant for Liverpool.

“They signed Origi on a long-term contract that virtually ruled out a back-up striker and I’m not sure that they don’t need a better one.”