Although Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino is waiting until the end of the season to pick his next club, one suitor is getting serious about him – while another is creeping up behind them.
Firmino will leave Liverpool in the summer when his contract comes to an end. Losing a player of his importance on a free transfer will be a blow to Jurgen Klopp. But regular gametime would be hard for him to retain at Anfield, so an exit is understandable.
Firmino has been a fine servant for Liverpool across his eight seasons in the Premier League. Respectably, he has decided not to negotiate with other clubs until he has played his last game for the Reds.
But some of the clubs who want to sign him are already making plans. One of the leading candidates to offer him the next step in Europe could be Inter Milan.
The Serie A side are unlikely to keep Romelu Lukaku beyond his loan spell from Chelsea. Therefore, they have identified Firmino as a bargain replacement.
According to Calciomercato, Inter are ready to make a move for Firmino on a free transfer. Also under consideration on the same terms is Marcus Thuram, who will be leaving Borussia Monchengladbach.
But Firmino has been the subject of Inter’s admiration for a while. With that in mind, they could make a serious effort to lure him to Italy.
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Alternatively, the same source has revealed that Roma are also showing an interest in Firmino. They might need a new attacker in the event of selling Tammy Abraham back to a Premier League club in the summer.
It is claimed that Roma have been in contact with Firmino’s representatives already. However, they will have to secure a return to Champions League football to have a realistic chance of signing him.
Roberto Firmino and Romelu Lukaku futures could be intertwined
Interestingly, Calciomercato also claims that Jose Mourinho’s side are thinking about Lukaku as well. Hence, it could end up being a case of Inter and Roma taking one option each between Firmino and Lukaku.
For Firmino, there will be a lot to weigh up when the time comes to consider his next move. He has been settled at Liverpool for some time, carving out his own role in the team.
A new challenge will be awaiting the 31-year-old next season, potentially in Serie A. It would be his first experience of representing an Italian club after previous spells in Brazil, Germany and England.
Inter are currently third in the Serie A table, three points above fifth-placed Roma. Both of them have played 27 games so far, so have 11 to go to try and secure a top-four finish.
Whether either of them can manage it should have an impact on what happens next for Firmino. But as things stand, all this will be considered background noise for him as he focuses on finishing his Liverpool career on the right note.
