Liverpool are planning to offer a new contract to a key part of his attacking trio, Roberto Firmino, this season.
That is according to football insider, who reveal that talks are set to begin before the summer to extend the soon-to-be 31-year old’s current deal, which is currently due to expire in June 2023.
Of course, much of the spotlight about new contracts has surrounded Mo Salah and, to a lesser extent, Sadio Mane in recent months, with all three of Liverpool’s Champions League-winning front 3 out of contract in 18 months.
Roberto Firmino had back-to-back winners in the 2019 semis and final ? pic.twitter.com/8Wm84Wohvw
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 12, 2022
It is thought that a new deal for the Brazilian would prove significantly less difficult to agree than Salah’s is threatening to be, with the Egyptian seemingly increasing his value with every performance this season and Liverpool currently unwilling to meet the hefty demands of their star.
Firmino’s new Liverpool role
It has been a season on the periphery for Firmino so far. A mixture of injury and the brilliant form of Diogo Jota has kept him out of the starting line up much of the time, with the gifted Brazilian having played just 662 minutes in the Premier League so far this campaign.
The addition of Luis Diaz will not affect him directly, with the Colombian generally operating in the wide areas. However, it will give Klopp more options in these positions, where Jota was previously an option, and could see Firmino’s game time released further.
A Liverpool icon, Firmino’s role in the side has not changed greatly, and scoring goals is still not his main aim in Klopp’s system. However, in Jota the club have found a man to play Firmino’s role while also adding in goals.
Even with a new contract, Firmino could be forced into more of a backseat role in coming seasons.
