Liverpool near £28m transfer of Robert Firmino as Ian Ayre jets to Chile to seal the deal
A fee has been agreed with the Brazil midfielder's German club Hoffenheim, which suggests the Reds are close to selling Man City target Raheem Sterling
- 57 Shares
- A fee has been agreed with the Brazil midfielder's German club Hoffenheim, which suggests the Reds are close to selling Man City target Raheem Sterling
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Braziliant! Liverpool are close to adding Firmino alongside countryman Philippe Coutinho
Liverpool are close to completing a sensational £28million coup for Roberto Firmino.
The Reds' chief executive Ian Ayre has flown to Chile to personally oversee negotiations with the Brazilian star and close out a deal that will make him the club’s second most expensive
It could also signal the departure of Raheem Sterling, with Firmino seen as his ideal replacement and
Manchester City preparing a third offer for the England winger.
Liverpool made an 11th hour attempt to hijack a Manchester United move for Firmino, and have agreed a deal with the player’s German club Hoffenheim.
The 23-year-old is currently with his home nation at the Copa America, and it was his goal against Venezula that fired the Samba Stars into a quarter-final showdown with Paraguay.
Anfield scouts have been in contact with the player’s advisors and, after getting the green light from Hoffenheim, Ayre flew out to lead the talks.
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It is understood his Bundesliga club have accepted, in principle, a fee of somewhere in the region of 40m euros, and the Reds chief is close to completing a deal that will give Firmino a five-year contract worth around £3.5m a year.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been desperate to sign a goal-scoring midfielder who can also operate in wide positions and behind a striker - the role Sterling has increasingly filled at Anfield over the past year.
