Divock Origi has been here in Liverpool before.
During his loan period to Wolfsburg in 2018, shortly before his notable comeback as a Champions League hero, there were suggestions he could continue.
But this time it feels different.
Liverpool are alleged to be open to offers for his signature as the January transfer window comes into focus and the timing – to be honest – couldn’t be more perfect.
Origi is less than 18 months into the long-term deal he signed after his European exploits against Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur, and at 25 he is the ideal age for Michael Edwards to get every penny out of a potential deal.
Liverpool are well equipped in their position for the time being. Despite lacking a traditional striker, the arrival of Diogo Jota means Jürgen Klopp will be spoiled for choice when choosing his top three.
With Takumi Minamino and Xherdan Shaqiri in reserve – along with the exciting strike prospects Layton Stewart and Paul Glatzel impressing the under-23s – the sale of Origi would by no means leave a glaring hole in his squad.
The Belgian will be keen to stick to the thoughts of national team manager Roberto Martinez ahead of Euro 2020, and his playing time at Anfield has cut dramatically since the start of the season.
He only played one minute in the Premier League and started a total of three games. One of them was against Lincoln City in the EFL Trophy on a team that also included Harvey Elliott and Rhys Williams.
His last start was at the end of November in the gloomy home defeat against Atalanta in the Champions League. It was hard to believe that he would have the writing on the wall in Liverpool.
But does parting of the ways have to be viewed as a bad thing? It just feels like Origi and Liverpool have come to their natural conclusion and the club can make a healthy profit while Origi secures playing time elsewhere.
He would leave a hero, a cult figure. Some may even call him a legend for his contributions to the number six Champions League, but also for his four goals – and 28 games – on the way to his first Premier League title last season.
“I had to trust my instincts,” Origi said after signing his new deal when asked how close he was actually to leaving Liverpool last summer. “I wanted to be part of this team.”
Perhaps his instinct could tell him otherwise this time.
He has delivered on the biggest stages for Liverpool for the past two years and maybe – maybe – there will be another origi comeback that will surprise us all.
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Or maybe the end is really near. He would leave as a memorabilia for so many, and would receive a heroic welcome if he returned to Anfield in rival colors.
Origi has been here before. But maybe the difference now is Liverpool. When Jota and Minamino arrive, Klopp appears to have moved on from his tried and tested super submarine.
Klopp initially paid £ 19million on the sale of Dominic Solanke to Bournemouth in 2019 and Hopefully Liverpool would secure more than that for Origi.
Whether the manager would be willing to lose one of his players in such a demanding mid-season remains to be seen, but at this point the striker, who sees the rest of his long-term business, looks slim.
Separation of the paths feels inevitable, and not many would argue that it doesn’t make sense for everyone involved.
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