TM Sources Confirm
Could Liverpool star Roberto Firmino soon play in Major League Soccer? Well, it is complicated. Transfermarkt can confirm a report by MLSSoccer.com writer Tom Bogert that St. Louis CITY SC are interested in the Brazilian striker, who will be a free agent signing this summer. St. Louis CITY SC, however, will have to fight off competition from other MLS teams and Italian giants Inter Milan to make the deal happen.
Adding to the @tombogert report. Roberto Firmino certainly on #stlcitysc‘s radar.
Usually, not in the age category they would be looking for but Pfannenstiel knows the Brazilian and has been in contact. An outside chance for #AllForCity. #InterMilan is very interested too. pic.twitter.com/5GAgmXvtvP
— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) March 11, 2023
The St. Louis CITY SC hierarchy has been interested from the moment news broke that Firmino was going to leave Liverpool as a free agent this summer. The club put in registration to place the player on St. Louis’ discovery list last week. St. Louis wanted to keep that fact quiet, but the story quickly leaked.
As it stands, St. Louis CITY SC are unlikely to be the only club MLS club interested in Firmino. Other clubs rumored to have put in a bit to place the player on the discovery list include Los Angeles FC. For now, the expectation is that other clubs will also have put in registration to have the Brazilian placed on their discovery list.
Firmino to St. Louis CITY SC – There is competition both at home and abroad
St. Louis CITY SC will, therefore, have to fight off other MLS interest if they want to land the forward. And even if they manage to put Firmino on the club’s discovery list, a transfer remains a long shot.
Usually, Firmino would be considered too old to be a transfer target for St. Louis’ squad. But it is no secret that St. Louis CITY SC sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel has had a close relationship with Firmino. Pfannenstiel discovered the 31-year-old forward in Brazil and then led the effort to bring him to Hoffenheim where Firmino quickly developed into a star. Furthermore, the club’s assessment is that Firmino is still in his prime and could help the expansion side long-term.
The fact that Firmino is in his prime, however, makes a transfer to MLS, in general, difficult. While St. Louis will try, the understanding is that Firmino would prefer a move within Europe next summer. Transfemarkt understands that the player’s camp prefers a transfer to Italy where Inter Milan is in the pole position. Should, by some miracle, St. Louis CITY SC team beat out Inter Milan, Firmino would instantly become the most valuable player in MLS.
No St. Louis CITY SC player yet – The 20 most valuable MLS players
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