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Roberto Firmino to Liverpool: Seven key facts that caused Brendan Rodgers to sign the Brazil forward

Firmino will sign a five-year deal with the club once he has passed a medical after agreeing a move worth nearly £30m

Wednesday 24 June 2015 14:56 BST

Brazil’s Roberto Firmino rounds Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to score the winner (AFP/Getty)

Brazil international Roberto Firmino is set to become Liverpool's second-most expensive signing after a £29million deal was agreed with Hoffenheim. Here we provide some background to the 23-year-old forward.

Origins

Born in Maceio, birthplace of three-time World Cup winner as player and manager Mario Zagallo, Firmino began his career in the youth team at Clube de Regatas Brasil before moving on to Figueirense.

Emergence

The Brazilian made his professional debut aged 17 on October 24, 2009 as a half-time substitute. He was promoted to the first-team squad permanently the following January, scoring his first professional goal in May 2010. In his first full season he scored eight goals in 36 appearances as Figueirense were promoted back to Serie A after a two-year absence.

Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Felipe Anderson

The Lazio midfielder has enjoyed his breakthrough season in Italy this year, but that has alerted a number of clubs across Europe including Liverpool. The 22-year-old Brazilian is contracted to the Serie A club until 2020 and will therefore cost a significant amount if he were to move this summer, but it’s believed he has the potential to become one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders in the world if he continues his steep development curve.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Theo Walcott

Arsenal’s pace merchant is finding it hard to break back into the first team after recovering from the ruptured cruciate ligament that sidelined him for over a year. With doubts over his fitness, his suitability to the current Arsenal side and whether he’s a better option compared to his team-mates, rumours have linked him with a dramatic Arsenal exit. Liverpool would be one of the teams in for the England winger, who can also play in attack, and given that his speed can terrify any defence he would be a suitable option to replace Sterling.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Marco Reus

Any move for Reus appears to be hinged on firing Brendan Rodgers and hiring Jürgen Klopp, and given the noises coming out of Anfield, it’s unlikely to happen this summer. But if another transfer window goes belly-up, don’t be surprised to see Klopp at the club soon after with Reus in tow. The Germany international is a wonderfully gifted player who combines pace and skill to dazzle defences. He has struggled with a persistent ankle injury in recent months, but he would add a proven quality to the Liverpool ranks.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Divock Origi

Rodgers already knows one signing he will see arrive at Anfield in the summer as Belgium striker Divock Origi will complete the permanent move he agreed last year, having spent the season on loan with Lille. Rodgers could look to revert to the tactics he deployed last season when he had Luis Suarez to pair up with Daniel Sturridge, and although Origi is nowhere near the level Suarez was at present, the Northern Irishman will hope he has unearthed a gem when he arrives in the Premier League.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Alexandre Lacazette

The French forward is being courted by the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea, but Liverpool could look to show a sign of intent by launching a bid for him before their rivals. Lacazette is equally adept at playing as a striker or out wide, and it would depend on how Rodgers would choose to deploy him to where he would feature. The France international has helped Lyon secure second in Ligue 1 and will finish the season as top goalscorers barring any heroics from Andre-Pierre Gignac, who trails by six goals.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Jeremy Menez

Menez’s brother and agent has fuelled talk of a move away from AC Milan by admitting he is likely to leave this summer, and even addressed rumours of a move to Liverpool as well as Monaco. However, at this point in time they are just rumours, and despite being able to play out wide he is more suited to an attacking role through the middle.

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Who could Liverpool sign to replace Raheem Sterling?

Ezequiel Lavezzi

The Argentine has fallen off the radar in recent months, but his future at Paris Saint-Germain remains far from certain and a move to the Premier League has always appeared on the cards. At home out wide on the wing, Lavezzi can also do a job up front, and would bring a physicality to the attack that is currently missing in Sterling, Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Ibe.

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Europe

In December 2010 Firmino signed for Bundesliga club Hoffenheim. His first goal was the match-winner against Eintracht Frankfurt in April 2011. He was named Germany's breakthrough player of the season in his fourth Bundesliga campaign after 16 goals in 33 appearances.

Brazil forward Firmino has agreed to join Liverpool

Influence

Firmino has recorded 21 assists over the last two seasons, more than any other Brazilian in the top five European leagues. Combining his own strike tally with his assists he has been involved in 45 goals in his last 66 outings in the German top flight. Overall he scored 47 goals in 151 appearances.

International

Firmino made his debut for Brazil against Turkey on November 12 last year. He scored his first international goal six days later against Austria and currently has four in nine appearances, including last weekend's Copa America winner against Venezuela. He has already scored in England with a goal in the friendly against Chile at the Emirates Stadium in March.

Firmino is currently representing Brazil at the Copa America

Fitness

With all the injury problems regarding Liverpool's main striker Daniel Sturridge last season the fact Firmino featured in 33 of Hoffenheim's 34 league fixtures in each of the last three seasons should offer manager Brendan Rodgers some reassurance.

Expectation

If the full extent of Firmino's transfer is realised (£22million plus £7million of add-ons) he will become the club's second most expensive signing after the ill-fated £35million deal for Andy Carroll. The fact he is Brazilian will only add to the demands fans place on him.

PA

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