La Liga giants Barcelona have developed an interest in Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino, who has just 18 months remaining on his contract at Anfield. Recent reports suggest that both Liverpool and Firmino are looking to part ways in the upcoming summer.
The 30-year-old Brazil international is one of the consistent performers at Anfield since his arrival from Hoffenheim in 2015. Firmino has enjoyed regular first-team game time with his fitness and work rate but lately, he is facing time on the sidelines due to a muscle injury and Diogo Jota’s resurgence at Anfield. Firmino will be in his last year of contract this summer and it will be a sad but smart business from Liverpool to sell him.
Firmino is in good form at Anfield this season but has missed recent fixtures due to his muscle injuries. He returned to the pitch in the last match against Brentford and assisted one goal in a 3-0 win for Liverpool. Firmino has scored 7 and assisted 4 goals in just 17 overall appearances for the Merseyside giants this season. He has contributed 167 goals in 310 appearances during his hugely successful seven years with Liverpool.
Roberto Firmino. One of the most unselfish players around. #LFC #LIVBRE #LiverpoolFC #YNWA #Firmino pic.twitter.com/uE07kirYnn
— ????? ? ????? – Finito (@FaIse9Bobby) January 16, 2022
Firmino is known for his vision, creativity, and work rate, which suits perfectly his attacking partners Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Both Salah and Mane have credited their success to Firmino who creates spaces and chances for his teammates every time they move forward. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp labeled him the engine behind the team that won Champions League and Premier League titles two years ago.
Liverpool Offer Firmino To Barcelona:
According to a report from El Nacional, Liverpool are looking to offload Firmino in the region of £17 million and also identified Barcelona as his next club. The Reds are aware that Catalan giants are looking for a new striker and their previous interest in Firmino will be enough to convince them to sign the player.
Both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are also in the last 18 months of their current contracts at Anfield. Liverpool have already started negotiating with the Egyptian forward but Salah’s £400-a-week demands are a big hurdle in their way so far. Liverpool are also planning to offer a new contract to Mane but only after extending Salah’s contract first.
Barcelona are having a shortage in forwarding positions this season and it is reflecting on their current standing in the La Liga table. The Catalan giants sit in 5th position in the league table and got knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage. Summer signing Sergio Aguero had to retire last month after being diagnosed with heart disease. Both Ansu Fati and Memphis Depay are struggling with injuries that left manager Xavi to deploy Luke de Jong in the number nine role recently.
Philippe Coutinho has joined Aston Villa on loan last week and French forward Ousmane Dembele is also expected to leave on a free transfer in the summer. The same report also suggests that Barcelona are also interested in signing Firmino next summer as he costs much less than their other transfer targets like Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi, and Erling Haaland.