16 February 2023 , 16:23
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Liverpool appear to have found their ideal replacement for veteran forward Roberto Firmino just in time as interest in the Brazilian grows from clubs abroad.
LaLiga giants Atletico Madrid are thought to be keen on prying Firmino away from Anfield given that they view him as an ideal replacement for Joao Felix. Felix is currently on loan at Premier League giants Chelsea, though some expect the Portuguese international to make his stay at Stamford Bridge a permanent one in the summer.
In regards to who the Reds view as their 'next Firmino', they've gone for an in-house choice in January signing Cody Gakpo. He may not be a shiny new toy that the Anfield faithful can look forward to in the summer, but he is just 23 years of age and is expected to develop into a similar level of threat as Firmino.
Gakpo of course spent much of his time at former club PSV Eindhoven on the left-wing, but has been used as a deep-lying striker/false nine at times during his short Liverpool career, similar to Firmino.
That has at times been called into question, with the player himself having to field questions on where he thinks his best role is just earlier this week after his first goal for the club against Everton.
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"Obviously I played a few games in the centre and more like a false nine to be involved in the build-up, try and be involved in the build-up, and from there go forward," Liverpool's newest recruit told Sky Sports.
Roberto Firmino's contract expires at the end of the campaign (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Liverpool let Firmino leave without extending his deal? Comment below
"It's another role than I’m used to, but it’s good for me to improve the position and keep working."
From Atletico's perspective, Firmino looks like an attractive propisition largely due to the lack of transfer fee required.
Despite weeks of speculation claiming a new deal had been agreed with the Liverpool hiearchy and he'd be extending his stay, Firmino is yet to officially put pen to paper on any form of new contract.
With his current one expiring come the end of the season, Atletico could be able to secure his signature without payinf a single penny in transfer fees.
Of course, with Liverpool being such shrewd operators in the transfer market down the years, there's every chance they persuade the forward to sign a new deal and then sell him anyway, purely as a means to raise funds for their own transfer dealings in the summer.
Spanish outlet Cadena SER report that Atletico view Firmino as a priority signing, though it does not state whether the Liverpool ace would be open to the switch.