Soccer Football - Carabao Cup Third Round - Liverpool v Derby County - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 9, 2022 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino reacts after missing a penalty in the penalty shoot-out REUTERS/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
The agent of Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino has revealed that contract talks regarding the Brazilian remaining at Anfield are going well.
The Lowdown: Firmino’s future
With his Liverpool career set to hit the eight-year mark in the summer following his £21.3m move from Hoffenheim in 2015 (via Sky Sports), there were question marks over whether he could be about to call time on his Anfield journey, with his £180k-per-week contract set to expire at the end of the season.
Firmino has been one of Jurgen Klopp’s go-to players this campaign, with the 31-year-old playing 21 times in all competitions, including a healthy return of seven goals and three assists in just 13 Premier League games.
However, the Champions League and Premier League winner hasn’t featured since before the World Cup break due to injury, but Klopp revealed he is set to return in a couple of weeks.
The Latest: Agent’s comments
Firmino’s return will be a welcome one for Liverpool given his form this campaign, but agent Roger Wittmann’s latest comments will be further cherished amid talks over a contract extension running smoothly.
He said to Sky Sports Germany: “It’s a very long relationship between Roberto and Liverpool. Roberto feels good. At the moment, we’re in a great exchange, and in February we’ll probably know where the journey is going.
“But Roberto also has to have a say in order to reach an agreement with Liverpool. We’re on the right track. We’re having really good talks with Liverpool. They’re a superbly positioned club.”
The Verdict: Great news
Firmino has been an immensely popular figure during his time at Anfield, and his form in front of goal this season – which sees him on course to record double figures for goals in the league for the first time in three campaigns – will be a welcome boost for the Reds upon his return to fitness.
Liverpool are struggling this season, with them currently sat ninth and facing an uphill battle to overturn the 10-point deficit to the top four, and his return from injury could provide them with a spark. Following the arrival of Cody Gakpo last month – the club’s only winter signing – a new deal could ease Klopp’s concerns to bring in another player.
The Reds are set to see an overhaul in midfield in the summer with four centre-midfielders seeing their contracts expire at the end of the season (via Transfermarkt), and although Firmino is also currently on that list, his agent’s comments provide hope that Klopp has one less problem to address at the end of the campaign.
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