Liverpool Turn Down Opening Bid For Fan Favorite Forward: Full Details

Liverpool FC have reportedly turned down an opening bid for forward Roberto Firmino ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Firmino, who has a year left on his contract with Liverpool, has fallen in Jurgen Klopp’s pecking order. It began with the arrival of Diogo Jota in 2020 before the Reds signed Luis Diaz this January.

Now, with striker Darwin Nunez in the squad, Firmino’s chances of starting games in the upcoming campaign have further shrunk.

Liverpool’s No. 9 will turn 31 in October and in order to play more regularly, he could part ways with the Anfield side, where he has been since 2015. One of the clubs interested in Firmino is Juventus, who even approached Klopp and Co. with a $23 million bid for the Brazilian forward.

However, Liverpool rejected Juventus’ bid, and the Serie A club is planning to return with an improved proposal, Italian media outlet TuttoJuve reported.

Liverpool will not stand in Firmino’s way if the Brazil national does want to leave this summer, according to Teamtalk.

Towards the end of the 2021-22 campaign, Firmino had made it clear that he wanted to stay at Liverpool. "I’m very happy here. I’m grateful to God that I’m here playing for a great club with great players, winning titles. And my will is to stay. My wish is to stay here. I want to be here. I’m happy here. So that’s all I can say, I want to stay," Firmino said in an interview, according to Liverpool Echo.

Firmino, who moved to Liverpool from Hoffenheim in 2015, has become a Reds legend and a fan favorite over the years. In 327 competitive appearances for Liverpool, Firmino netted 98 goals and provided 74 assists. His best season with Liverpool was 2017-18, where he netted 27 goals and provided 17 assists. That season also saw the beginning of Liverpool’s iconic front three of Firmino, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mane.

It was Salah’s first season at Liverpool and it was indeed a memorable one for the Egyptian King as he netted an incredible 44 goals, while Mane had struck 20 goals.

As of today, Mane has moved to Bayern Munich and Firmino’s future is uncertain at Anfield. However, Salah recently signed a long-term contract that would see the African star at Liverpool until 2025.