Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino has been backed to sign a contract extension at Anfield by pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Firmino has just 12 months remaining on his deal at Liverpool and despite his dwindling influence with the arrivals of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez, he will still have a key role to play during the coming months and potentially years.
Last season the Brazilian made just ten Premier League starts due to injury and rotation, but did manage five goals, 12 in all competitions.
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Agbonlahor praised Firmino for his influence, believing that he still has a few years left in him in L4.
The 35-year-old told Football Insider:
“I do like Firmino. He doesn’t score as many goals as he should do because he’s a very good finisher and a very good player. He was unlucky last season.
“Losing Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino, Liverpool have to have options and they have to keep Firmino."
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"Núñez isn’t going to play every game, Firmino is going to be second choice in that position but he’s someone you need around the squad."
“There are so many games to play, there are so many competitions and Liverpool take them seriously. There’s a lot of football to be played."
"His contract could be [looked at]. Maybe a short extension, a year extension, I could imagine.”
With three forwards leaving and only one arriving, the Brazilian could genuinely feature more prominently this campaign at Anfield.
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The possible switch to a 4-2-3-1 could also see Firmino revert to his previously preferred number ten position, which he occupied regularly for previous club Hoffenheim.
He signed for Liverpool in 2015 as one of the final signings of the Brendan Rodgers era, with his arrival dwarfed by Christian Benteke’s big-money move from Aston Villa.
Firmino was used sparingly by the Northern Irishman but was immediately identified as a key cog when Jürgen Klopp arrived in the October of that year.
Since, he has scored 98 goals in 327 matches for the Reds, playing in more matches than any other player under Klopp.
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He would certainly be a valuable asset, but at 31 it's unclear as to how he forces his way past more youthful prospects.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool, Premier League, Roberto Firmino