With Liverpool set to undergo a squad overhaul in the summer, departures will be required in order to make room for new arrivals.
Liverpool need to rebuild their midfield and bolster their defense, but most would agree Liverpool’s attack is full of talent, with Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo leading the line as of recently. Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino have both returned from injury, but the latter is out of contract at the end of this season.
Josh O’Brien for The Mirror has reported today that Atletico Madrid want to bring in Firmino on a free transfer in the summer.
O’Brien writes that Atletico view the Brazilian as the ideal replacement for Joao Felix, now on loan at Chelsea but expected to depart permanently in the summer.
The report states that Liverpool view Cody Gakpo as the player to step up and take the majority of Firmino’s minutes next season. With half a season under his belt, Liverpool supporters will hope Gakpo is fully up to speed with the Premier League’s intensity by the beginning of next season.
Although Jurgen Klopp has stated that he views Firmino as an important part of his squad and wants him to extend his contract, at 31, Liverpool will have a decision to make about Firmino. One of the problems associated with Liverpool’s poor form this season is that The Reds are one of the oldest teams in the league.
If Klopp wants to commit to undertaking a full rebuild, he may be forced to part with some of his loyal warriors of many years, with James Milner and Joel Matip also rumoured for departures this summer.
