Why Roberto Firmino Would Be a Dream Summer Transfer Target for Liverpool
"All I can say is that he’s moving to England"—10 words that will spark an early transfer frenzy this summer. Football agent Roger Wittmann's concession, according to German publication Bild (h/t the Guardian), that his client, 1899 Hoffenheim forward Roberto Firmino, will move to a Premier League club this summer—without naming the club in question—has caused much speculation.
The Press Association claim that a move to Manchester United is likely, but if Liverpool can wrest the 23-year-old from Louis van Gaal's clutches, he would be a dream summer transfer signing for the Reds.
The report continues: "All of the formalities—including a medical—are likely to be completed while Firmino is in South America to enable him to complete what is likely to be a club record transfer for the Bundesliga side. Firmino, who scored seven Bundesliga goals last season, is valued between [£18-21 million]."
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Firmino is currently away with the Brazil national team, as Dunga leads his star-studded side through the Copa America in Chile, and the former Figueirense forward is set to star alongside Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho.
With Coutinho's current Reds team-mate Raheem Sterling looking likely to leave Merseyside this summer after Manchester City reportedly lodged a second bid for his services—this time for £40 million, according to the Press Association (h/t This is Anfield)—Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers should be on the lookout for a suitable replacement for the high-potential, young England forward. There may be no better time than now to shop for a successor, and Firmino represents a dream summer transfer target with this in mind.
So just why should Rodgers be tussling for Firmino's signature this summer?
Following in the footsteps of Real Madrid centre-back Pepe, Firmino, a versatile 5'11" forward, made the move from his hometown of Maceio to Europe in 2010, joining Hoffenheim in a deal worth just £3.52 million.
Former Hoffenheim director Ernst Tanner recounted to the Bundesliga's official magazine how he was so impressed by Firmino's mentality when at Figueirense that he had to bring him to Germany—exemplified by his endurance of a gruelling two-and-a-half hour training session directly after an 11-hour journey back from an away game, all the while goaded by his demanding coach.
"Anyone else would have gone crazy, because the coach was nagging him the whole time, but he just carried on," Tanner said. "He had ability, but it was his mentality that set him apart, and I said to myself, ‘That’s what will help him in Germany.’" This would perhaps have been no surprise had he known Firmino personally, with the Brazilian recounting how: "I wanted nothing else than to be a footballer. I even took a football to bed every night."
Firmino's success is a tale of sheer determination, and although he did initially show signs of unprofessionalism by being late to training sessions with the Bundesliga club, he has now seemingly ironed out his issues—no doubt spurred by the rigorous German training regimes—and become a well-rounded footballer.
He is a young player trying to carry on tradition, as he revealed with praise for Hoffenheim manager Markus Gisdol: "He gave me the No. 10 shirt, which is the favourite number of Brazilians. It’s the shirt worn by our idols like Pele and Ronaldinho and it was like a present for me. I tried to pay the coach back with my performances."
Now likely to repay his current employers' faith by earning them a transfer fee worth six times what they paid for him five years ago, Firmino can continue his ascent to what he hopes to be Ronaldinho-level status with a move to the Premier League.
Typically operating in an attacking-midfield role for Hoffenheim, Firmino has all of the strengths required to excel in English football, as a source close to the club told Ed Malyon of the Mirror this month: "Offensively he can play pretty much anywhere. It's hard to work out what his best position is because he's so talented that he performs in every position. He has the class and the potential to play for one of the biggest teams in the world as he is still very young."
With the Bundesliga and the Premier League the most stylistically similar divisions among Europe's top five, it is understandable that he has been tipped for big things in England.
Blessed with the typically flamboyant qualities of the very best Brazilian No. 10s, Firmino is a statistical phenomenon, having averaged 4.3 successful dribbles and 2.1 key passes per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga in 2014/15. Only four players to have made 10 or more appearances in the Premier League last season—Sunderland's Ricky Alvarez, Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Swansea City's Jefferson Montero—averaged more dribbles per 90 minutes, while he would place in the league's top 30 in terms of key passes.
Only Sterling (2.2) made more key passes per 90 in the Liverpool squad. Of course, to add substance to this style, Firmino finished 2014/15 with seven goals and 10 assists from 33 appearances, or a goal contribution every 172 minutes—better than Coutinho's (280) or Sterling's (218) output for the Reds.
However, as Pete Hall detailed for Sky Sports in analysing Firmino's ability to settle into Van Gaal's United squad this summer, there is more to the 23-year-old than skill.
"Pace, flamboyance and speed of thought are a given for any fleet-footed boy from Brazil, but it is the 23-year-old’s work rate that could quickly endear Firmino to the Old Trafford faithful, as well as United’s hard-to-please chieftain," Hall writes. Transplant the player into Liverpool's Melwood complex, and his work ethic would similarly please the demanding Rodgers.
In the Bundesliga last season, Firmino made an average of 2.7 tackles per 90 minutes, which is remarkably high for an attacking player. Only six players regularly operating in the forward positions in the Premier League last term—Stoke City's Charlie Adam, Tottenham Hotspur's Andros Townsend and Erik Lamela, Newcastle United's Remy Cabella and Sammy Ameobi and Liverpool's then-Manchester City man James Milner—averaged more tackles per 90.
With Milner roundly lauded for his defensive contribution and work rate in the forward areas, this is a real marker of just how combative Firmino is. With a bulky 76 kg in weight filling out his near-6' frame, Firmino is of a similar build to Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge (6'2"; 76 kg), which perhaps highlights where he could fit in within Rodgers' squad next season.
According to Dunga, Firmino is a player who "smelled of goals" when he met him, and this may point to where he would best fit in at Liverpool.
"When I made the first list and summoned Firmino, I asked him what he would bring to the team and told him he smelled of goals," the Brazil manager said in November, as reported by Alex Chaffer of FourFourTwo. “He sees the goal like few others. When we call upon the players we have an observation to study of each them. Then, obviously it depends on what the player does on the field. He proved himself."
Despite playing primarily as a No. 10 for Hoffenheim, since coming into Dunga's squad, Firmino has performed well as a centre-forward—following the demise of Fred's reputation at the World Cup, the 51-year-old has turned to Robinho and Diego Tardelli as his other options in the forward role.
In eight games so far for the national team, Firmino has scored two goals and made one assist at a rate of a goal contribution every 131 minutes. Although he endured something of a horror show in Brazil's Wednesday night loss to Colombia, he is still slowly proving his credentials as a centre-forward, which is boosted by his chemistry with Neymar Jr. and Coutinho.
This relationship with Coutinho could prove a successful one at Liverpool. The diminutive Reds playmaker is swiftly developing into a sensational Premier League talent—one well-tuned to the demands of English football and the hard work that Rodgers expects alongside his more attractive qualities—but Liverpool should be looking for a player that can accent this talent. Coutinho cannot and should not be expected to do it alone, and Firmino could lighten the load somewhat.
Firmino's signing would also alleviate the pressure on the injury-prone Sturridge who, according to Tom Sheen of the Independent, is unlikely to be available for selection until "mid-to-late October." With Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli all failing to hold down a regular centre-forward's role last season—thanks to their lack of goals—and likely to depart Merseyside this summer, Firmino could take up an attacking role in Sturridge's absence. The Brazilian's versatility could lend him to a variety of roles, too, such as alongside Sturridge when he returns from injury.
No Liverpool player contributed as many goals as Firmino did last season, and he would be a fine addition to a squad in desperate need of a good finisher for 2015/16.
"City stepped up their pursuit of [Sterling] with a proposal worth £40 million after add-ons, but it has been turned down by the Merseysiders," John Percy of the Telegraph revealed on Wednesday night.
However, as he continued: "City could return with another improved offer and there remains a sense that with the transfer window not officially open for another fortnight, the saga still has some way to go." While Liverpool supporters endure this grotesque saga, there is a growing feeling that Sterling will not be a Reds player next season, despite the club's wishes. This leaves a significant spot open in Rodgers' squad.
Lazar Markovic and Jordon Ibe will lay claim to this regular role in the forward line, but given Liverpool's qualification for the Europa League next season, as well as hopes for top-four contention and a renewed charge for silverware in 2015/16, it is likely that if Sterling goes, a replacement must be signed.
So is Firmino good enough to fill this void? Sterling is, after all, the current European Golden Boy, and one of the most promising talents in the Premier League—his upside is immense, with a potential Arjen Robben-esque rise on the cards if his development continues.
Given Firmino's all-round quality—his skilful flourish matched by his impressive physicality—and his proven ability to find the back of the net in one of Europe's most demanding leagues, it would be astute to suggest that he would be one of the prime candidates to replace Sterling this summer. His ability to perform in the No. 10, out wide and as a centre-forward is reminiscent of the role Sterling has played under Rodgers, and Firmino's chemistry with Coutinho—Liverpool's best player—should see him slot in nicely at Anfield.
If a deal for Firmino is at all possible this summer, Liverpool should push for it relentlessly: He is the dream addition to a soon-to-be Sterling-less forward line.
Statistics via WhoScored.com and Transfermarkt.co.uk.
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