Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is not the only player left in limbo following the closure of the summer transfer window as Divock Origi also failed to secure a move away from AC Milan
Origi has been unwanted at Mian since 2023, just one year after signing a four-year deal following his departure from Liverpool, and was sent out on loan to Premier League club Nottingham Forest last season.
That spell did not yield success, as he scored one goal in 22 Premier League matches, and Forest cut ties when the loan deal ended.
Origi did not receive a great welcome back in Milan, however, as he was banished to the U23s after new coach Paulo Fonsenca made it clear that the striker was not in his plans.
That message was emphasised by club legend and advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic in July.
“Divock Origi and Fode Ballo-Toure are not part of our plans. They will be part of the youth team as they’re not included in our project,” Ibrahimovic told the media in Milan.
The message had been clear that Origi should find a new club or risk fading into oblivion and as the transfer window in most of Europe shut on Friday, no club had made a concrete offer, leaving him stuck in Milan.
Origi was said to have received offers from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, MLS and Qatar, which he was reportedly evaluating, but the window closed before a deal was sealed.
It means he can join clubs in Turkey, where the window is open until September 13, but the door to Saudi will be shut on Monday night when the window officially closes.
The MLS transfer window also closed on August 14, meaning he is likely to continue being frozen out until the January transfer window.
Origi still has two years left on his Milan deal worth €4 million per season and it will be interesting to see how the Serie A club reacts, given there have been reports of a possible contract termination.
The 29-year-old managed two goals in 36 matches across all competitions for Milan in his debut campaign.
