Report: Now an expectation that this is ‘elite’ player’s final season at Liverpool

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There’s now an expectation that Roberto Firmino’s Liverpool future is set, according to reports. The Brazilian is out of contract in 2023.

This comes from Goal. They claim that there’s now an expectation that Roberto Firmino leaves Liverpool at the end of the season.

Firmino’s contract expires in June and there aren’t any negotiations to renew it. With little talk surrounding talks coming up, either, it now looks likely that the Brazilian walks for free.

The report does make it clear that all parties are ‘relaxed’ about the situation, though. At the same time, an extension hasn’t been ruled out and it remains possible that Firmino signs a new deal.

But as things stand, it seems this will be his final campaign at Liverpool.

Roberto Firmino’s Liverpool future

Before this season, this felt relatively predictable. Firmino will be coming on 32, Liverpool need to invest in youth, and a new long-term deal didn’t make much sense.

But here we are in October and Firmino is Liverpool’s top goalscorer. The Reds would be doing much, much worse without him and that’s a worry.

The Brazilian has six goals in seven Premier League games. Only five of those games were starts, too, while Firmino has added another three assists. In a lot of ways, he’s the most reliable forward at the club.

And so there are two worries. One, Firmino could leave for free at the end of the season at a time when Liverpool are reliant on him. Two, Liverpool are reliant on him.

The plan was for Firmino to play a squad role this season. Jurgen Klopp doesn’t start him in the ‘big’ games, much as he didn’t towards the end of last season. But nothing has gone to plan in this campaign, including the no.9 being the star forward.

Yes, he’s an ‘elite’ player, as Ian Wright said last season. But this is supposed to be a season where Liverpool wean off of Firmino as a key option. Instead, they’re increasingly reliant.