Liverpool legend expected to leave the club at the end of the season

Roberto Firmino is expected to leave Liverpool at the end of the season if Cody Gakpo completes his move to Anfield in January.

PSV Eindhoven have announced that they have agreed to sell Gakpo to Liverpool, subject to him passing a medical with the Premier League club.

Jurgen Klopp's side have reportedly agreed to pay an initial £37m fee for the Netherlands international, with the total deal worth up to £45m including add-ons.

Reports claim Gakpo has already agreed terms on a six-year deal with Liverpool and could complete his transfer on January 1.

Firmino to leave Liverpool?

Gakpo's imminent arrival boosts Klopp's attacking options in the short term.

However, it could also spell the end of Firmino's Liverpool career, with the popular Brazilian out of contract at the end of the season.

Reports earlier this month claimed that Firmino was in talks with Liverpool over a new deal.

But boyhood Liverpool fan and former Republic of Ireland international Tony Cascarino believes Firmino is unlikely to be offered a new contract if Gakpo completes his move to the club.

"Wow, more goals," Cascarino told talkSPORT following the news of Liverpool's deal for Gakpo.

"Just think, they've got Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez who you’d like to think will chip in with more goals, and now Gakpo, who is only 23 years old.

"The most surprising thing about Gakpo is that he’s 6ft 4in but he's not your traditional centre-forward. He's very athletic, he's very quick.

"He's so versatile that you can play him in any position in the forward line – and that's typical of a Klopp signing, that he likes to use certain layers in different positions.

But, I think there will be a sad exodus for some players who have been terrific for Liverpool but have their contracts running down. And I think that will be Firmino in the summer."

Liverpool are also at the limit of the number of foreign players they are allowed to name in their squad for the Premier League, meaning a player nearing the end of his contract – such as Firmino – could be sold or even unregistered in January if the club wants to register another foreign player.

However, it is more likely that Firmino will remain with Liverpool until the end of the season.

He would then be able to move on a free transfer, with the 31-year-old free to negotiate a pre-contract with a foreign club from the start of next month.

Firmino joined Liverpool from Hoffenheim in 2015 and has gone on to score 107 goals in 348 games for the Merseyside club.

He has been a key player in the Klopp era, winning every major trophy with the Reds including the Champions League and Premier League.

The Brazilian has continued to contribute this season, scoring nine goals in all competitions.

He has missed Liverpool's last two matches because of an injury picked up in training and remains a doubt for their next game away at Leicester on December 30.

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