Despite reports stating Roberto Firmino will be staying at Liverpool this summer, Danny Mills has suggested the Reds should look to sell the 30-year-old.
Speaking on TalkSPORT earlier today, when asked about where Liverpool would be left after a potential Firmino exit, Mills claimed it wouldn’t be a “huge loss” for the Premier League runners-up.
“It’s not a huge loss, is it, realistically?
“When you look at the players they have got, they have just brought in obviously Darwin Nunez, they have got Diego Jota as well, you have got enough cover in those areas.
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“Realistically how many games would Firmino start this year? Not many would be the answer. A few cup games.”
Recent reports have insinuated the Reds aren’t prepared to sell the Brazil international, but Juventus are said to be interested in acquiring his services. They've reportedly just bid €23M for his services.
Despite having just one year remaining on his current contract, one suspects it’d be a wise decision for Liverpool to keep hold of Firmino.
He can offer the Klop's side a valuable Plan B this season if things don’t go to plan regarding the current first choice attacking options at Anfield.
Darwin Nuñez has of course been brought in to occupy the centre-forward role on a regular basis off the back of Sadio Mané’s departure.
Mané usurped Roberto Firmino in the central striker position last term before he was allowed to leave Liverpool to join Bayern.
This signalled a change in approach on Merseyside concerning what Jürgen Klopp wanted from his striker.
Rather than deploying Mané in the Firmino-esque false 9 role, he was instructed to get in behind opposition defences and throw himself into the penalty area to get on the end of things.
This is the role Nuñez will be asked to play at Liverpool next season. They have moved past the false 9.
That said, a quick acclimatisation to the demands of the Premier League is not guaranteed for Nuñez and Diogo Jota is struggling with injury problems at the moment.
Thus, there could very well be occasions this season where Firmino is required to play in his favoured false 9 role at Liverpool.
Topics: Liverpool, Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours, Roberto Firmino
Robert Worthington