Jurgen Klopp has dismissed rumours linking Roberto Firmino with a move away from Liverpool this summer.
The Brazilian’s future at Anfield has been questioned, after the arrival of Luis Diaz in January and the big-money signing of Darwin Nunez to add further depth to Liverpool’s attacking options.
Reports have suggested Juventus are keen on Firmino and have considered submitting a bid in the region of £20m for the 30-year-old.
However, speaking at his press conference ahead of facing Manchester City in the Community Shield, Klopp confirmed he still sees Firmino as a pivotal member of the squad.
“Bobby is crucial for us, the heart and soul of this team,” Klopp said.
“Everything looks really good and I am absolutely fine. For me, no doubt about his quality, so yes, he is essential for us.”
Liverpool go into this weekend’s Community Shield off the back of a pre-season defeat to RB Salzburg, though many of the club’s first-team stars only played 30 minutes of that match.
It would be no surprise to see Man City and Liverpool once again push each other all the way in the race for the Premier League title, but Klopp has downplayed the significance of Saturday’s Wembley clash.
He joked: “If you win it, it’s a very important competition but if you lose it, it becomes less important!”
