The agent of Roberto Firmino has hinted that discussions over a new contract for the Liverpool forward are likely to conclude this month.
Firmino, 31, is due to be a free agent in the summer but has been locked in talks with the Anfield hierarchy for months in a bid to thrash out a new deal. And although the veteran striker's influence has waned over the past 18 months, the Reds are still eager to retain his services.
The Brazilian, who joined the club from Hoffenheim back in 2015, has also gone on record and stressed that he would like to extend his stay on Merseyside beyond this season.
While negotiations between Firmino and the club have yet to yield an agreement, his agent, Roger Wittmann, has provided an encouraging update on discussions - and predicted that a conclusion to the saga is likely to be imminent.
Speaking to Sky Germany, Wittman said: “It’s a long relationship between Roberto and Liverpool. Roberto is comfortable. At the moment we are in a great exchange and in February we will probably know where the journey is going.
“But Roberto also has to have a say in order to find an agreement with Liverpool. We are on the right track. We have really good talks with Liverpool. It’s an outstanding club.”
Firmino has been sidelined since November with a calf injury, but he had been in fine form before the World Cup break. The veteran plundered nine goals in 21 appearances for the Reds and appeared to have reclaimed his spot in the team before his injury.
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It was confirmed by Jurgen Klopp prior to Liverpool's FA Cup defeat at Brighton that Firmino is still a couple of weeks away from a return to action. During Firmino's absence, Liverpool struck a £45million deal for Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo: the third attacker the Reds have signed in just over 12 months after previous deals for Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.
Klopp was adamant, though, that Firmino remains an integral part of his future plans and insisted that the arrival of Gakpo would not impact Firmino's standing at the club.
The German went on to confirm that he and the club had held more private talks with Firmino in a bid to sort out the forward's future - although he did admit that further competition for places could impact Firmino's stance on extending his deal.
“We had talks with Bobby,” Klopp confirmed in December. “From my point of view, I want him definitely to stay. It has no impact. If it affects Bobby then you'd have to ask him.”
