Roberto Firmino is leaving Liverpool this summer at the end of his contract but his stance on his future is likely to hold up Chelsea’s attempts to sign Joao Felix.
There are likely to be no shortage of suitors for Firmino this summer with La Liga giants Atletico Madrid among them, as outlined by Diario AS. The Reds forward would theoretically replace the role of Felix in the squad – after the Portugal international joined Chelsea on a loan deal for the remainder of the campaign in January.
It is claimed that Marcus Thuram remains the prime attacking target for Atleti; the France international is, like Firmino, a free agent this summer as his deal at Borussia Monchengladbach expires. The club are said to be planning for the possibility that Felix joins Chelsea on a permanent basis.
Felix joined the Spanish giants from Benfica in the summer of 2019 for a club-record £108million after enjoying a breakthrough season in Lisbon, bagging 20 goals and established himself as one of the hottest properties in European football.
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This season has seen relations between the forward and boss Simeone deteriorate as Atletico continue to struggle for form. Felix has often cut a frustrated figure while watching on from the substitutes’ bench.
Having joined from Hoffenheim in 2015, Firmino has bagged 107 goals in 353 Liverpool appearances – forming a fearsome front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. The arrivals of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo in recent times have ushered in a period of transition.
Firmino’s agent, Roger Wittmann, has confirmed that despite indicating to the Reds his wish to leave this summer, he has not spoken to other clubs or planned his future for beyond the campaign.
