Jurgen Klopp has confirmed how Liverpool would respond if Roberto Firmino joins Juventus this summer as the Italian side are pushing for him.
Roberto Firmino, a striker for Liverpool, is entering the final year of his deal at Anfield, and according to rumours out of Italy, Juventus is willing to spend big money to get him this summer.
After having their initial offer for Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino “laughed at” by Anfield management, Juventus is allegedly preparing a second offer.
The Brazilian, who was signed in the summer of 2015, months before Jurgen Klopp was named Reds manager, has emerged as one of the club’s most astute purchases of the modern period and has been a constant in the team during their recent victories.
When Klopp’s team won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League a year later, Firmino was the line leader for the team. Due to the additions of Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, and most recently, Darwin Nunez, the 30-year-old has dropped down the pecking order as he enters the final year of his contract on Merseyside.
Firmino, a founding member of Liverpool’s legendary front three, has already outlasted Sadio Mane, who signed with Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window. However, while Firmino has a long-term deal, Mohamed Salah has not, and if he leaves, Klopp may need to find a successor.
According to a report by TuttoJuve, Juventus submitted an official proposal for the versatile forward, but their $19.5 million offer was flatly turned down. Massimiliano Allegri is searching for a striker to pair with Dusan Vlahovic after Alvaro Morata ended his two-year loan to Atletico Madrid.
Firmino and Manchester United forward Anthony Martial are reportedly on the Bianconeri manager’s shopping list as a replacement. Though a transfer for the Liverpool player seems to be closer, TuttoJuve said that a better offer might be on the way soon.
They assert that there is a perception that Kop bosses could either make a profit on the player or risk losing him to free agency next summer. Over the years, Klopp has been one of Firmino’s biggest supporters and frequently rebutted those who criticized him for his performances.
According to the ECHO, he is more likely to push to keep him for another season given the cut-price nature of any deal at this point. However, the German made the intriguing remark that players must leave in order for any additional incomings to be approved during this window.
Liverpool has acquired intriguing Portuguese talent Fabio Carvalho from Fulham and highly regarded defender Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen in addition to Nunez from Benfica. Unless senior members of the squad leave before the deadline of September 1, it appears that business is closed on the red side of the city.
“We’re done if nobody wants to leave. Or if a serious injury develops—I sincerely hope not. Klopp told Sky Sports that Liverpool supporters could now turn their attention to other matters.
When questioned about possible exits, he added: “Have I ever discussed it in circumstances like this? You receive the outcomes, not the method!”
In addition to losing Mane to Bayern, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi both left Liverpool for Monaco and Milan, respectively.
Later this week, Liverpool will play its final preseason match against RB Salzburg in Austria before coming back to the UK to take on Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley. The following week, they visit Craven Cottage to play Fulham, who were recently promoted, and that is when their Premier League title challenge officially starts.
