Liverpool Warned Against Making Divock Origi Replacement for Luis Suarez

Liverpool have been warned off signing Belgium international Divock Origi as a replacement for Luis Suarez, whose move to Barcelona is on the brink of completion.

Suarez, who scooped the PFA Players' Player of the Year and Football Writers' Footballer of the Year prizes, scored 31 goals in the Premier League last season as the Reds finished second in the top flight.

But in the wake of another controversial episode involving the Uruguayan during the World Cup where he was banned from football for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, Liverpool have opted to cash in on Suarez.

The imminent sale has sparked rumors regarding a replacement for the 27 year old, with Lille striker Origi, who scored his first international goal in the group win over Russia, the latest to be linked with a switch to Anfield in a deal worth £11m.

But former England defender Danny Mills has warned Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers that Origi, 19, does not possess the experience to lead the line next season.

"[If Brendan Rodgers is going to sign him} that all depends on Luis Suarez doesn't it? I think you'd have to sign him as maybe a backup player, I don't think you can sign him as the No.1 as that would be a big, big risk," Mills told Sky Sports News Radio.

"If you lose Luis Suarez, and lets be honest you [Liverpool] lose 30 goals a season and to replace that with a 19 year old would be almost unheard of and that pressure that would be put on him that would be very, very hard to take."

He added: "He's very, very raw and very, very young. He's come in replaced Lukaku a couple of times. It's very, very difficult in tournament football to judge a player and that's why you have to be careful.

"You came on as a sub in the first two games, two good games doesn't make you an outstanding player and that's what you have to be careful of because there has be longevity over a course of a season.

"He's undoubtedly got some potential, he's big, he's awkward and he could go on to be a great player. He's definitely one that needs to be monitored but he's clearly not the finished article as yet."