Roberto Firmino 'offered huge contract by Barcelona'

Barcelona have reportedly offered Roberto Firmino a "huge" contract, with the Catalan giants bidding to sign the Liverpool forward on a free transfer this summer.

The 31-year-old will leave Anfield when his contract expires at the end of June, and there has been a host of speculation surrounding his future in recent months.

MLS outfit St Louis City have allegedly made an approach for the Brazilian, while Inter Milan and Roma are believed to be in the running for his signature.

According to Football Insider, Barcelona are also in the hunt for the experienced forward, and the Catalan outfit have put a contract on the table for the South American.

The report claims that a lucrative deal has been offered to Firmino, who has scored 11 goals and registered five assists in 33 appearances for Jurgen Klopp's side during the 2022-23 campaign.

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Firmino has nine goals and four assists in 23 Premier League appearances this term, while he also contributed two goals and one assist in eight Champions League appearances.

The forward has lost his starting role at Anfield this season, though, and he will now be ending his association with the Merseyside giants at the end of June.

The Brazilian joined Liverpool from Hoffenheim in 2015, and he has represented the Reds on 360 occasions in all competitions, scoring 109 goals and contributing 79 assists.

A successful spell has seen Firmino win the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League, in addition to lifting the Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

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Real Madrid are also believed to be admirers of Firmino, but Barcelona are confident that their contract offer will convince him to make the move to Camp Nou this summer.

Robert Lewandowski has been Barcelona's main source of goals this term, scoring 27 times in all competitions following his arrival from Bayern Munich last summer.

However, no other player has contributed double figures for Xavi's side in terms of goals in 2022-23, with Raphinha (nine) and Ousmane Dembele (eight) the next two on the list.

Barcelona will boost their squad with new arrivals this summer, but the team's financial problems mean that big-money additions are unlikely, with the club instead looking at the free agent market.

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan is said to be another target for the La Liga leaders, with the German only having a deal at the Etihad Stadium until the end of June.