Liverpool could offer Roberto Firmino new contract after rumours of his departure

Before the match against Manchester United in the Community Shield, Juventus made an offer for the striker.

03/08/2022, 03:50 AM +00:00

Liverpool will be actively trying to tie Roberto Firmino down to a new contract and his Community Shield role may have been a clear signal. The Brazilian has played a vital role throughout manager Jurgen Klopp’s tenure but now his influence is under scrutiny. He has one year left on his contract and, unlike elsewhere in Liverpool’s front line, he has been largely out of the spotlight.

Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota have signed new contracts, while Sadio Mane has left for Bayern Munich. Luis Diaz is looking to kick on from his explosive first half-season at Liverpool, with Darwin Nunez an even more recent arrival from Benfica. Firmino may therefore expect to have a bit-part role this season, although he started and played 58 minutes of Saturday’s Community Shield win over Manchester City.

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Klopp trusts him and that’s why I think they will be discussing a new contract. Klopp won’t want him to go, he’ll want him to stay. The German said last week that Firmino remains “crucial” for Liverpool. However, he refused to talk of his future beyond the new season.

Firmino must produce for Liverpool

Firmino has played 328 games for Liverpool since his move from Hoffenheim in 2015. The most likely option for Firmino as it stands is for him to leave Liverpool as a free agent. But he can finish his Reds career with a fantastic milestone of 100 goals.

He could of course sign a new deal, but with the average of Liverpool’s front line now being pulled down by Nunez, 30-year-old Firmino is an outlier alongside Salah in being that bit older. And the difference with Salah is that he is still at the forefront of Klopp’s plans and has therefore signed a new deal.

Firmino has not had the same impact, struggling last season with injury, and so Liverpool may well amicably agree to let the Brazilian leave as a free agent. Nevertheless, he is two goals away from a century for Liverpool. Reaching that mark this term will cement his status as one of the architects of Klopp’s success.