Barcelona are reportedly considering making a move to sign Roberto Firmino, with Liverpool open to selling the Brazilian for a sum of €20 million.
According to a report from El Nacional, Liverpool are ready to sell star forward Roberto Firmino in the summer transfer window, and Barcelona are prepared to take advantage by making a swoop for him.
Firmino is currently in his seventh season at Liverpool after arriving from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015. The Brazilian made a slow start to life in England but came into his own once Jurgen Klopp took over the reins, firmly establishing himself as the first-choice in the No. 9 position.
The 30-year-old has amassed 309 appearances for Liverpool so far, bagging 94 goals and 72 assists in the process. However, over the past year or so, Firmino has seen his status as the first-choice striker come into question due to Diogo Jota’s impressive performances and his own fitness issues.
Firmino has missed more than ten games this season due to injuries, and Jota has made the most of those opportunities to become the main man up top. And with the Brazilian international’s contract set to expire in eighteen months, it is now being claimed that Klopp is ready to part ways with the attacker in the summer, for a fee of just €20 million.
It has captured the attention of La Liga giants Barcelona, who are scouring the market for reliable options in the centre-forward role. While a new striker is expected to arrive at Camp Nou in January, with Hugo Ekitike their latest target, the Blaugrana remain intent on adding a marquee attacker in the summer as well and have been linked with a move for Erling Haaland.
However, given the difficulties involved in signing the Norwegian international, the Catalan giants would benefit from making alternate plans, and Firmino seems to have emerged as one such Plan B.
The report states that Barcelona are looking at a forward of a similar profile to Firmino, who can press from the front and is sharp in his link-up play with those around him while being a regular contributor in front of goal. At the same time, the €20 million price tag mentioned would make him a financially feasible option for the La Liga giants.
However, it is stated that Barcelona will consider signing Firmino depending on his fitness situation at the end of the season. It remains to be seen if Liverpool are actually ready to bid adieu to the 30-year-old this year and if so, it will be interesting to see if he ends up making the switch to Camp Nou.
