Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool to keep hold of Roberto Firmino and risk losing him for free rather than selling him this summer.
Firmino is into the final 12 months of his Liverpool contract and it remains to be seen whether he will extend his stay at Anfield beyond this season. But the ECHO understands there is no appetite to sell the forward, who has been linked with a £19m move to Juventus in the Italian media, in the coming weeks.
The Brazilian has been an integral part of the Reds' success under Jurgen Klopp but has slipped down the pecking order somewhat since the arrivals of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz. And with Darwin Nunez now at the club, Firmino faces further competition for his place.
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But Liverpool legend Carragher believes the 30-year-old, who started Saturday's Community Shield win over Manchester City at Wembley, still has a 'big role' to play.
“I don’t think it’s a risk losing him for nothing,” said Carragher to Football Daily ( via HITC ). “I have felt for a couple of years now that Firmino would see this contract out and move on for nothing.
“I think getting £19m or keeping Firmino next season, I would probably keep him. The situation Liverpool find themselves in, they don’t want to be caught short.
“I think Firmino will have a big role. Listen, Nunez might take time to settle and he is playing in the Premier League. And that’s not just about his ability, it’s about coming to a different league. So, I think Firmino could be really important this season and I think he might actually start the first few games of the season and I can imagine Nunez coming off the bench.
“I am not quite sure about the Juventus links. Obviously, we have spent a lot of money on a striker and Juventus play a 4-3-3, if I am not mistaken, so I couldn’t see Firmino playing wide or going there to be an understudy. The links may be true, I don’t know, but I would keep him.”
Firmino has reiterated his desire to remain with the Reds. When speaking to TNT Sports Brasil after the 3-1 victory over City, Firmino said : "I love this team, this city and the fans. I'm here. I want to stay of course."
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