Half of the Premier League will be clamouring to sign Roberto Firmino if he leaves Liverpool this summer.
That’s the view of journalist Alex Crook, anyway. Speaking on TalkSPORT this morning, Crook gave his take on the Liverpool forward’s current situation.
“I could see Firmino leaving, certainly in the summer, if not this month,” he said. “I think there will be clubs looking at Firmino, maybe West Ham, who need firepower. Half of the Premier League would want Firmino if he became available.”
With just six months left to run on his contract at Anfield, it’s decision time for Bobby.
Over to you, Bobby
Over the last several months, there have 101 clubs linked with a move for Liverpool’s No.9.
But of all the teams mentioned, perhaps West Ham United have the least chance of signing Firmino in the summer.
Why would Bobby choose to travel south, both in geographical and footballing terms? With the likes of Barcelona, Juventus and Atletico Madrid all reportedly coveting him, it wouldn’t really make sense.
Of course, his Brazil international colleague Lucas Paqueta has recently seen fit to join the Hammers from Lyon, so there is perhaps a precedent. But unlike Paqueta, Firmino has already won the lot in football. He doesn’t need to put himself in the shop window for bigger clubs. Bobby has been there and done that.
Instead, his next move should be one that sees him gracefully fade from the very top of the European game. Not one that would have him drop off the face of it.
From our point of view, that should be at Liverpool. Firmino has done more than enough to earn himself another couple of years’ stay at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp would appear to think so too, with the Liverpool manager admitting he’s keen to keep hold of Bobby. Klopp has previously called the 31-year-old ‘essential’ via liverpoolfc.com. The regard he holds the striker in is obvious.
So, the ball is now in Firmino’s court. There’s no doubt that his signature would be an attractive one if he were available for nothing. But we’ve got a sneaky feeling that that won’t happen.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
