24 Jul 2014 15:18:45
Hi all, going to start with the clichè 'long time visitor of 3 years, first time poster' (well, I actually posted a few times before the registration thing). What I actually wanted to ask the eds about is whether there's any truth in the Roberto Firmino rumours, massive fan of his and been following him throughout last season and always said that a smart team should nab him. Thanks in advance :D

{Ed002's Note - Firmino agreed an extension recently but will very likely move in the summer with Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Zenit, Inter, Manchester United and Schalke interested - but Dortmund pushing for a deal. I am aware that Everton, Dynamo Kiev and Liverpool have also looked at Firmino but have not declared interest with his agent. Shakhtar have dropped their interest. Roberto Firmino was previously subject of a rejected bid from Southampton. May still be first choice to replace Alexis Sanchez but Arsenal and Inter are the two sides pushing.}

1.) 24 Jul 2014
Good stuff Ed.

LG, what does Firmino offer? ESPN thinks AW wants to turn him into a striker, but never watched him myself.

2.) 25 Jul 2014
@wire
Well with Firmino you get one of the Bundesliga's TOP performers last season and he did it with an average mid table Hoffenheim side, and at 22 he still has a big room to improve.

To start off, he has played a few times as a forward but that's not his main position, he was put mostly as a free roaming central attacking midfielder but is equally comfortable playing out wide (where I imagine Wenger would put him given the reports about sanchez as a forward unless he decides to switch the 2) given the fact that he's a great dribbler, a bit pacy, and a general all rounder.

He can also score and assist at impressive rates, he hit 16 goals and 11 assists last season and I think I read somewhere that he averaged like 4.5 shots/goal and can play some killer balls to his teammates.

Finally, another reason I can see him play on the wings is the fact that he's also very good defensively and more than puts his fair share of tackles and whatnot.

So all in all I think that for the reported 15 mill asking price we can get a gem of a player that's only 22 and can easily become a 30mill + player.