Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Roberto Firmino and Toby Alderweireld

Liverpool star Roberto Firmino is reportedly prohibited from joining Arsenal due to a clause in his Anfield contract. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur have denied claims of a low release clause in Toby Alderweireld's deal.

The speculation of both accounts surfaced after Belgian daily Le Soir (h/t Dan Gibbs of the Daily Express) published details from the latest instalment from whistleblowing website Football Leaks.

Kristof Terreur of Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws confirmed the leak:

It's unclear as to why Arsenal were dealt a specific blow in the contract, although it may be the case that the slight is in response to the Gunners' rejected 2013 bid for then-Reds striker Luis Suarez, worth £40 million plus £1, per BBC Sport.

Firmino moved to Anfield from Hoffenheim for a reported fee of £29 million in the summer of 2015, per BBC Sport.

Get French Football News also provided a transcript of the leak in question, where it's explained the stipulation was inserted due to the fact Firmino's €98 million (£82.7 million) release clause wasn't seen as enough of a deterrent:

"

Arsenal cannot buy him for €98m, nor for any higher amount. When he signed his contract with Liverpool on the 1st July 2015, the Brazilian attacking midfielder was burdened with a €98m release clause, which seems a lot. But it is not yet enough to keep distance with rivals Arsenal. The €98m therefore, is only “if the club that is interested is not Arsenal.

"

The Premier League is one of, if not the most lucrative league in the world when it comes to transfers, and so the Reds perhaps can't be blamed for limiting their scope in terms of rival bids for their talisman.

After a slow start to life at Anfield, Firmino, 25, has grown to become an essential cog for the Merseysiders and has six goals to his name from 15 appearances this season, a talent recently celebrated by the club's official Twitter account:

Despite the fact he was signed by previous manager Brendan Rodgers, it's current boss Jurgen Klopp who has come to squeeze the best out of the Brazilian by moving him into more advanced roles at times.

In fact, Firmino has had to fulfil striker duties on more than one occasion this season, and Bleacher Report's Matt Jones argued areas in which the South American could even be viewed as superior to Everton ace Romelu Lukaku:

Elsewhere, the Mirror's Darren Lewis reported Tottenham have "angrily denied" rumours of a £25.4 million release clause in Alderweireld's contract, with Liverpool mentioned as one of the teams potentially interested in a January swoop.

That figure would be seen as good value for a centre-back who's gone from strength to strength since coming to England, although Sport Witness questioned the authenticity of this particular leak:

Goal's Alex Young provided details of the Football Leaks report, again published by Le Soir, where it's also said Spurs are eager to tie the Belgium international down to a new deal in order to ward off interest.

Alderweireld was a key figure in the Tottenham side that finished third in the Premier League last season, earning a selection in the Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year.

Manchester City and Manchester United were also said to be interested in the defender's services upon news of a potential release clause, although Spurs appear to be moving quickly to sign Alderweireld up on new terms.