Jurgen Klopp has reaffirmed that he does not want Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino to leave the club amid reports that the Brazilian could exit from Anfield this January.
Speaking to the press via Anfield Watch, the Liverpool boss sent a stern transfer message when asked about if Firmino could leave Merseyside, with the Daily Mail recently reporting that Atletico Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus are all interested in the forward.
https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1615629188920221696
Firmino has been a mainstay in Klopp’s Liverpool system ever since the German manager joined the club in 2015, yet this season has seen the 31-year-old attacker play more a squad role following the arrivals of Darwin Nunez in the summer and Cody Gakpo this January.
Signed from Hoffenheim in 2014 for a reported £29m, Firmino is a fan favourite at Anfield. Yet with the Brazilian’s contract set to expire at the end of this season, there’s a string chance that the Premier League superstar could be on the move later this year.
Indeed, Klopp wanting to keep Firmino makes sense as the striker leaving Liverpool would leave a significant hole in the Reds’ attacking ranks. However, given that Nunez is now viewed by many as the future of the Anfield attack, the forward leaving Merseyside would be a wise decision from the player.
Firmino should leave Liverpool at the end of this season
Firmino has established himself as a modern Liverpool legend having won the club’s first-ever Premier League title and a UEFA Champions League, as well as reaching the final an additional two times. However, this summer feels like the right time for the 31-year-old to leave.
As well as losing out on his regular starting position, it is clear that Liverpool are building for a new future without Firmino in mind, even with Klopp’s recent quotes. And for the forward, a new challenge with one of Europe’s elite could be an exciting prospect for the Brazilian.
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