Jurgen Klopp wants Roberto Firmino to extend his stay at Liverpool and sign another contract.
The Brazil international has been an integral part of everything Liverpool have achieved under Klopp, who believes he was left 'a gift' by former manager Brendan Rodgers when he arrived at Anfield in October 2015 to find Firmino.
Klopp said on Tuesday that a summer of change beckons at Anfield and it is inevitable that players will leave – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will not sign another deal, while it is highly unlikely Naby Keita, who was once Liverpool’s record transfer, will remain beyond June.
The German sees things differently with Firmino, though. Reports in Germany have indicated that discussions are close on a deal that, potentially, would run to June 2025. Klopp would not go into specifics but was clear on wanting his number nine to stay.
He confirmed: ‘I said that before – yes, I want to keep him at the club.’
Firmino is out injured at present and is still some distance from returning to first team training. He won’t face Chelsea this weekend but Darwin Nunez is winning his race to be involved in that game and should train on Thursday.
Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Wolves gave Klopp huge satisfaction and, having made eight changes to the team that were squashed at Brighton last weekend, he said it was a display that gave him food for thought, as it featured an encouraging shift from 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic.
‘We are not in a casting show but we have this game and after four days to train and then after five or six days to train (before Brighton),’ said Klopp. ‘I am not blind. In the past we won a lot of games. The door is open to everyone. Whoever fights has a chance to play.
‘Stefan is a good boy – a good player, very smart in his movements. He had a few situations where he saw there was space and he did really well. What helps is he wins these challenges and having Thiago next to him is really helpful. Thiago talks a lot, Naby was helpful too.
‘This was an important sign for us that these kind of things are possible – and for our people at home. There is a massive game coming up (against Chelsea). If we had played another game like the last one, I am not sure what the people would have thought coming to Anfield.’
And of a trip to Brighton in round four, Klopp replied: ‘I don’t think my job is to be a big mouth. The idea when we go there, in one and a half weeks, is to try to play better. Let’s see.’
