According to the recent reports, La Liga giants Barcelona are prepared to sign Liverpool star Roberto Firmino in the summer transfer window. The Spanish champions want a brand new center-forward and the Brazilian international could join his national teammate Philippe Coutinho at the Camp Nou.
Liverpool is currently sitting in third place on the Premier League table but are still joint top and level on points with Manchester City and Liverpool. One player who has been instrumental to Liverpool’s hardcore pressing is Roberto Firmino.
The false number nine is the man in the team who starts Klopp’s aggressive intense pressing high up the pitch. Firmino has taken his game to the next level over the past few seasons under Klopp as the German boss is getting the best out of his front men. Along with Firmino, Liverpool’s impressive attack is flanked by Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah which allows gives them a cutting edge over other teams in the attacking third of the pitch. However, Firmino’s incredible strength and ability to hold the ball up in tight spaces and link up with the cavalry is one of the main reasons as to why Liverpool have been so successful of late, helping the club reach the Champions League final last term.
However, these stellar performances can sometimes lead to trouble with the continental rivals as the best clubs in the world come knocking on the door for a player. And Barcelona has certainly had their way with Liverpool over the past few seasons. The Reds have usually found themselves powerless over the recent years when it comes to Barcelona coming in to poach their top players.
Back in the summer of 2014, Liverpool allowed Uruguayan superstar Luis Suarez to leave Anfield when the forward notched up 31 goals in the Premier League in the previous season. Suarez almost singlehandedly took Liverpool to the top of the Premier League but the Merseyside club lost out to eventual champions Manchester City. A £75m deal was enough to take Suarez to Barcelona and Liverpool felt the same way during the last transfer window.
Despite their best efforts to keep hold of Brazilian play-maker Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool finally agreed to allow him to leave during a crucial period mid-way through the season for £142m. Coutinho signed a contract extension with Liverpool a few months ago but handed in his transfer request when Barcelona was keen on his signature. And now the La Liga champions have their sights set on another Liverpool star Roberto Firmino, who also recently put pen to paper on a new Liverpool deal.
Spanish journalist Eduardo Inda revealed that Firmino would be a replacement for the stubborn Luis Suarez at the Camp Nou but Barcelona will wait until the end of this season,” It’s about Firmino, Liverpool player,” he said when asked about Barcelona’s transfer plans. “I already said that Luis Suarez is seen increasingly stubborn and they are considering doing the same operation as Coutinho. But I guess at the end of the season, not halfway through.”
