FIRMINO CAN JOIN ANYONE FOR £82M, EXCEPT ARSENAL
ROBERTO Firmino reportedly has an £82 million (R1.4 billion) release clause in his Liverpool contract – but Arsenal are blocked from signing the Brazilian striker.
The forward could be the subject of transfer interest next month. According to the Football Leaks website, one club he will not go to is Arsenal.
That claim boils down to the acrimonious saga between the two clubs in 2013 when Arsene Wenger tried to lure Luis Suarez away from Anfield with a cheeky bid for the Uruguayan.
Liverpool bosses were left angered by Arsenal’s offer of £40m plus £1 in the belief that would activate Suarez’s release clause. Owner John W Henry tweeted at the time: “What do you think they’re smoking over at the Emirates?”
The report indicates an ongoing distaste at the way in which Arsenal’s interest in the Uruguayan was handled. Firmino cost £29m when he signed from Hoffenheim last year and has proven a big hit under Jurgen Klopp.
Jamie Carragher said there was nobody better at harrying defenders in England. Statistics show he covers more ground than any other striker in the division.
“Roberto Firmino is as good as anyone in the Premier League at winning the ball back and closing people down,” said Carragher. “He is a massive part of this Liverpool team.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham want to sign a new deal with Toby Alderweireld long before his £25m release clause can be activated. Alderweireld’s contract is worth £50 000-a-week plus bonuses. It includes a clause which seemed to offer rivals the chance to buy the Belgium centre half in his peak years for £25m.
The clause cannot be triggered until 2019 when the contract is due to end, by which time Alderweireld will be 30. It will never be activated if Tottenham manage the contract carefully.
New contract talks had already started before any leaks, with a view to extending and improving the deal Alderweireld signed when moving to White Hart Lane from Atletico Madrid for £11.5m last summer. He will expect to be bumped into the £70 000-a-week tier, just behind striker Harry Kane, who has signed a new deal worth over £100 000 a week.
Alderweireld is fit again after a knee injury and came off the bench in Tottenham’s 3-1 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow on Wednesday. – Daily Mail