It’s expected that Arsenal will be one of the busier clubs in this summer’s transfer market as they aim to bring in at least one new forward player. Former club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang departed in January to join Barcelona while both Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette are also set to leave at the end of the season when their contracts expire.
Of that group, it’s the latter who’ll arguably leave the biggest void and replacing the Frenchman will be a priority. It’s not a straightforward job on paper, given the way in which the 30-year-old operates for the Gunners.
Although he is a striker on paper, Lacazette’s role often plays out into something much more. Beyond scoring goals, he is relied upon to drop deep, link play with others, keep the ball in dangerous areas and work hard defensively when his side are without the ball.
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One of the players Arsenal are reportedly looking to try and replace him with is Juventus star Paulo Dybala. The Argentine attacker is set to end a seven-year spell in Turin at the end of the season with his contract due to expire. But a number of big European clubs are interested, meaning competition for his signature would be fierce and signing him wouldn’t be an easy task.
Arsenal will therefore surely be drawing up a list of alternatives, and based on what they’re after, there’s every chance Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino could be considered. The Brazilian international is still rightfully regarded as one of the best attacking players in the Premier League, and he exhibited his ongoing brilliance only last week coincidently against Arsenal with his exquisite finish at the Emirates in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory.
A rival successfully signing one of Liverpool's top forwards would usually prove near impossible. However, Arsenal may be able to profit from the fact that the 30-year-old will head into the final year of his current deal at the end of this season, and as of yet there’s been no talk of an extension being offered.
There has for other Liverpool stars such as Mohamed Salah whose contract is due to expire at the same time, indicating that the Reds are likely to let Firmino leave at the end of this current deal. Therefore if Arsenal, or another club, were to put forward an attractive offer this summer, Liverpool would be left with a huge conundrum.
Firmino is crucial to the success of this Liverpool side. He’s not always stood out from a goalscoring perspective, though his record of 96 goals since arriving at Anfield back in 2015 can’t be sniffed at.
It’s instead been his all-round influence in the attacking third that’s so often been most revered. Not only has he registered 73 assists during his time on Merseyside, but he’s also been the absolute best at gluing together everything Liverpool do well inside the final third. Fans who watch him every week would agree that his role resembles something like an advanced pivot.
This season, Firmino has played about a third of Liverpool’s Premier League matches, with rotation and injuries a key reason why. This has meant some of Liverpool’s next generation of attacking stars, such as Diogo Jota, have been tasked with trying to replicate his influence.
Though Jota has performed well and illustrated a unique ability to often score crucial goals when Liverpool need them most, it wouldn’t be unfair to say that it’s been clear that he’s not yet able to offer what Firmino does in that number nine role. No Liverpool player really can.
This might be decisive in the Reds opting to hold on to the forward for another year, even though they’d lose him for free 12 months later. Yet a good offer could prove too good for the club’s hierarchy to turn down, meaning we may be witnessing the beginning of the end for a real fan-favourite on the Kop. Time will tell.
