Barcelona have agreed to a deal with Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino, according to a Daily Mail report. The Brazilian will join the Spanish giants when his Liverpool contract expires in the summer.
Firmino has played an instrumental role in Liverpool's success, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Club World Cup. However, the 31-year-old has struggled for regular game time this season, prompting him to seek a new challenge in Spain.
Before settling for Firmino, Barcelona had been linked with a move for KAA Gent's Nigerian prodigy Gift Orban.
But the Belgian club has made it clear that he is not for sale in the summer transfer window. Despite being in scintillating form, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in nine games in the Belgian Pro-League, and five goals in five Europa Conference League games, Orban will remain at Gent.
The club's technical director, Michel Louwagie, confirmed that Orban has a contract until 2027 and that the club did not sign him to sell him on.
Louwagie dismissed rumours linking Orban with a host of top European clubs, including Barcelona, Porto, Benfica, Leicester City, and Leeds United.
He said, “Gift is a luxury problem. We've never done that before. He still has a contract until 2027, and we didn't get him at the end of January to sell again in July.”
Barcelona have now turned their attention to Firmino, who will bring his attacking prowess to Camp Nou.
Firmino's move to Barcelona signals the end of an era for Liverpool, but it presents an opportunity for the Brazilian to start a new chapter in his career.
Meanwhile, Orban, who has been compared with Barca great Samuel Eto'o, will continue to dazzle at Gent, where he has become a fan favourite and a key player for the future.
