Roberto Firmino 'tells Jurgen Klopp he wants to LEAVE Liverpool'
Roberto Firmino ‘tells Jurgen Klopp he wants to LEAVE Liverpool’ after eight years at Anfield with his contract up at the end of the season… as Reds prepare for major revamp this summer amid underwhelming campaign
- The Brazilian has reportedly told Jurgen Klopp he wishes to leave this summer
- Roberto Firmino has been a constant during the Klopp era having joined in 2015
- Liverpool are braced for a sizeable rebuild this summer after difficult campaign
Roberto Firmino has reportedly informed Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool that he wishes to depart this summer.
The Brazilian has been a constant during the enormously successful Klopp era on Merseyside, having been signed by Brendan Rodgers, the German’s predecessor, in the summer of 2015.
With Liverpool having experienced a difficult campaign in which they have been blighted by injury and a constant stream of poor results and performances, the club are braced for a sizeable rebuild this summer.
According to Sky Germany, Firmino, 31, will be one of those that waves goodbye this summer after he informed the club of his intention to leave.
The report states that the talks were amicable between the two parties, suggesting that there was little disagreement over whether or not this was the right move.
Roberto Firmino has reportedly told Jurgen Klopp that he will depart the club this summer
The Brazilian has seen his appearances limited in recent years and his contract is up this June
Firmino’s contract is set to be up this summer, with his age profile perhaps making it an easier decision than it otherwise might have been to let him go.
Liverpool’s signing of forwards Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, last summer and in January respectively, have pointed to a revamping of Liverpool’s attack as they look to move away from the front three, consisting of Sadio Mane, Firmino and Mo Salah, that brought the club so much success.
With Mane having departed last summer for Bayern Munich, and now Firmino nearing the end, by next season Salah will be the only one left, though there have been question marks over his suitability.
Jamie Carragher, following the club’s 5-2 shellacking at the hands of Real Madrid in the Champions League last month, pointed to the club’s defensive frailties this season as being down to all the component parts of the team – with the front line’s lack of appropriate press hurting their defensive capabilities.
Having formed a key part of Liverpool’s Champions League and Premier League-winning sides in consecutive seasons, Firmino has seen his appearances steadily decline in recent seasons.
The chat informing Klopp of his decision reportedly went well – with all involved at the club aware of the sizeable rebuild needed
Last term, he made a total of 35 appearances across all competitions as he was blighted by a series of injuries and niggles that kept him sidelined for weeks and months at a time.
Despite an impressive start to the season this term, in which he scored six times in the club’s opening eight games of the Premier League season, he has again fallen by the wayside in Klopp’s plans.
He has not started a game for the club since November 11 last year, a 3-1 victory over Southampton in which he scored.
He was left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad for the winter tournament in Qatar.
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