Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool are in contract talks with Roberto Firmino

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Jurgen Klopp has said that contract talks are taking place between Liverpool and Roberto Firmino, with the Brazilian yet to sign a new deal to tie his long-term future at the Merseyside club.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, the Reds manager confirmed that conversations are taking place between the club and Firmino over signing a new contract, with Klopp saying when asked on the subject: “Normal conversations [are] happening as well, so we will see what happens there.”

Signed from Hoffenheim in 2015 for a reported £29m, Firmino has been part of the Liverpool revolution under Klopp since the beginning, with the Brazilian forming the central role in the front three that lead the Reds to the 2019 UEFA Champions League title and Premier League glory in 2020.

Despite the signing of Darwin Nunez this summer, though, Firmino has remained a key player for Liverpool this season with the 31-year-old bagging nines goals in 21 appearances for the Reds. However, the attacker’s contract is currently set to expire next summer.

With Liverpool having prior experience of losing a key player due to their contract expiring, the Reds will not want to suffer the same fate with Firmino, even with Nunez likely to take the starting striker role next season following his first year in England.

Indeed, Firmino has proven this season to be a reliable stream of goals for Klopp’s side, and the attacker signing a new contract with the club will be a crucial move for Liverpool if they’re to succeed in their latest rebuild under the German manager.

Firmino signing new Liverpool contract will be massive

With seven Premier League goals this season, Firmino is Liverpool’s top scorer in the division and out-firing the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Callum Wilson and Heung-min Son, and Liverpool tying the Brazilian down to a new contract would be a big move from the Merseyside giants.

After all, Liverpool have let go key players in the past for free to disastrous effect, namely Georginio Wijnaldum. And the Reds simply can’t afford to allow a player as influential as Firmino to leave the club for free, with the South American still having a role to fill in the years to come.