Man Utd Miss Out As Liverpool Confirm £29m Signing On 5-Year Deal

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Roberto Firmino…

Liverpool have beaten Manchester United to the signing of Roberto Firmino after announcing they have agreed to sign the Brazilian attacker on a long-term contract from Hoffenheim, subject to a medical.

Firmino enjoyed another excellent season in Germany last year that saw him score 10 goals and provide a further 12 assists and that impressive form led to speculation of a possible move to the Premier League.

The Daily Star reported earlier this month that Firmino was heading to Old Trafford after Manchester United had supposedly agreed terms over a deal, with the paper even suggesting the attacker was due to have a medical.

However, those reports turned out to be a little premature and the media soon started to link Liverpool with the South American, with Mirror the claiming last night that the Merseysiders were closing in on his signature after chief executive Ian Ayre flew out to Chile to oversee negotiations with the attacker.

It seems those talks went well as the club announced on Liverpoolfc.com this morning that Firmino will move to Anfield on a long-term contract after they agreed a deal with Hoffenheim.

A statement on the clubs website read:

Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim, subject to a medical which will take place immediately following the player’s participation in Copa America 2015 for Brazil.

The 23-year-old has agreed a long-term contract with the club.

No official fee has been disclosed by either club yet but the BBC are one of several outlets who claim the deal will cost Liverpool in the region of £29m with Firmino set to sign a five-year contract.

That would make the 23-year-old the second most expensive signing in the clubs history behind Andy Carroll – although Reds’ fans will be hoping Firmino proves to be a slightly more successful addition than the Geordie target man.

Firmino is currently away on international duty at the Copa America so he’ll undergo a medical once Brazil’s participation in the tournament is over and complete his move to Anfield to become the clubs fifth summer signing following on from James Milner, Adam Bogdan, Danny Ings and Joe Gomez.

The South American will also require a work permit but that shouldn’t be an issue as he’s now a regular in the Brazil squad, so it looks as though Liverpool have wrapped-up the signing of one of Europe’s most exciting young players.

Firmino is a versatile attacker who can play anywhere across the front three positions as well as through the middle as a central striker, so he’s going to give Brendan Rodgers plenty of options in attack next season.

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That will be music to every Liverpool fans ears as the club could certainly do with more creativity in the final third after the Merseysiders only registered 52 league goals last year. Firmino should certainly help in that department as he’s been involved in 45 goals in his last 66 appearances for Hoffenheim.

Liverpool fans can now sit back and watch their latest signing in action at the Copa America over the coming days knowing that he’ll be lining-up alongside compatriot Philippe Coutinho at Anfield next year.