Firmino & Mane out, Nunez in: Are Liverpool in need of another striker?

Updated: 27 Jul 2022 13:49 BST
3 min read

Roberto Firmino celebrates for Liverpool in their UCL win over Inter — © ProShots

Juventus are close to signing Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, according to reports in Italy.

Juve let go of Paulo Dybala on a free transfer to Jose Mourinho's Roma, while Alvaro Morata returned to Atletico Madrid after the completion of his loan deal.

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Massimiliano Allegri's side have now identified Firmino as their ideal replacement and have submitted a £19 million bid, reports Corriere dello Sport.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is thought to want Firmino to stay at Anfield for the 2022-23 campaign.

However, the Brazil international has just a year remaining on his contract and is yet to enter negotiations over a renewal.

So, it would make financial sense to let go of the 31-year-old this summer.

But, should Firmino sign for Juventus, will Liverpool then need to sign a replacement striker in this transfer window?

Do Liverpool need Firmino replacement?

Liverpool have already lost Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich in this transfer window, but the Merseyside club signed his replacement before the Senegal international left the club.

An £86m (€100m) deal for the transfer of Darwin Nunez from Benfica was agreed in June, which enabled the sale of Mane.

Nunez, 23, arrives as Liverpool’s club-record signing after scoring 32 goals in all competitions last season, including in both legs of Benfica’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Liverpool.

Here for this Roberto Firmino finish 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4Rr1BSf0TR
— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) July 26, 2022

However, the departure of Firmino to Juventus could see The Reds dip into the transfer market once more.

Without question, Jurgen Klopp's side could cope without signing a replacement for the outgoing Brazilian.

But, 'coping' is not what Liverpool are aiming to do; they are looking to overturn the one-point deficit to last season's Premier League winners Manchester City.

An attacking quartet of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez and January signing Luis Diaz will be lethal.

Although it will only take two injuries and Klopp will have to field a much lesser quality player in one of the front three positions.

With the significant funds available to Liverpool, that simply isn't a risk worth taking.