Chelsea To Battle Liverpool For £15m-Rated Brazilian Striker

As we approach the opening of the summer window clubs will be intensifying their efforts in the transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Chelsea are linked with Roberto Firmino.

Chelsea are lining-up a £15m move for one-time Liverpool target Roberto Firmino as Jose Mourinho looks to shake-up his attacking options, according to reports today.

The Blues are widely expected to complete a £32m move for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa in the coming weeks with newspaper reports suggesting a deal has already been agreed but the official announcement will be delayed until after the Spanish international plays in the Champions League final later this month.

However, it looks like Mourinho wont stop there and is planning a complete overhaul of his striking options with the Express citing reports coming out of Germany that claim Chelsea are now lining-up a £15m move for Hoffenheim striker Roberto Firmino.

The 22-year-old has just enjoyed a stunning season in the Bundesliga, scoring 16 goals and providing 12 assists in his 33 league games, and his impressive form has not only earned him a place in the Brazil squad for the upcoming World Cup finals, but he’s also attracted interest from a whole host of top European clubs.

Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona have all previously been linked with Firmino and now it seems Chelsea have joined the race, but they may have to work hard to persuade him into leaving this summer as the striker insisted back in March that he was content at Hoffenheim.

“I am really excited about being at Hoffenheim 1899.

“I really like the aims the club is aspiring to. We are playing a thrilling way and the team spirit among the squad is just great.” Firmino is quoted as saying by the Express

Whether Firmino would be able to resist if any of these European giants came calling remains to be seen, but I personally don’t see him turning down the chance to join such illustrious clubs to stay at a team that finished 9th in the Bundesliga.

Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to bring in striking reinforcements this summer after complaining about his ‘lack of strikers’ on several occasions last season. If Firmino ends up joining Costa in moving to Stamford Bridge it would put the futures of Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o in serious doubt and you’d have to expect at least two of them to leave this summer.

Firmino would most likely be considered as back-up to Costa but he’s certainly proven to be an exciting talent and his performances for a very-average Hoffenheim side over the past 12 months have been nothing short of exceptional.

READ MORE –> Chelsea transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will battle it out with Chelsea for the Brazilian’s signature, but Brendan Rodgers is expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer as he looks to build a squad capable of dealing with the added rigor that Champions League football will bring next season, and Firmino would give him another option up front to compliment the likes of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.