Star forward ‘considering his options’ despite Liverpool being open to new contract

Roberto Firmino ‘considering his options’ despite Liverpool contract offer

Roberto Firmino is considering his options despite Liverpool being open to a contract extension, as per James Pearce of the Athletic (Subscription Required).

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano earlier this month. talks are ongoing between the two parties over a new deal. He is currently set to become a free agent this summer, but the Reds are open to offering a new short-term deal to the Brazil international.

The 31-year-old was once one-third of a fearsome attacking trio that contained Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. The former has left for Bayern Munich while the latter has been subpar since the AFCON last year.

Firmino has himself been replaced in the team. He is no longer the starting No. 9 with the Reds investing heavily in youngsters Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo in back-to-back transfer windows.

To extend or not to extend?

Sentimentality has been one of the reasons behind our decline this season. The trust in a handful of players despite their shaky form over the course of the season has blocked certain areas in our team where we could have made upgrades.

Firmino, if kept strictly as a player who can be brought off the bench or act as backup for Nunez and co., is an asset that should be kept beyond the summer. But beyond that, we must accept that he is no longer the player he was before.

He seems to have dropped his level of performance and is no longer effective up front when we need goals and assists. It is also understandable that the former Hoffenheim star is considering his options.

Perhaps he understands he is no longer our main man up front. A short-term contract would also not offer that extra bit of security and mental peace for a player now in his 30s.

More Liverpool News:

• Transfer News: Liverpool ‘monitoring’ PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe
• Liverpool dealt with N’Golo Kante blow as midfielder is set to sign a new deal with Chelsea
• Transfer News: Liverpool eye a move for RB Salzburg’s Luka Sucic

He still has the quality to be a regular starter elsewhere. Although we must admit it will be a strange sight seeing him in any other colour apart from Liverpool red.