Roberto Firmino: Liverpool star may demand £350,000-a-week wages after source’s talks update – pundit
Roberto Firmino may demand wages of £350,000-a-week in negotiations with Liverpool over a new contract, according to Danny Mills.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Man City and England defender claimed the question marks over Mohamed Salah’s future give Firmino, 30, a strong hand in discussions.
Both players, along with Sadio Mane, are out of contract at Liverpool in the summer of 2023.
A club source told Football Insider last Saturday (12 February) they are set to offer Firmino a new contract ahead of the summer.
This site reported earlier this month (5 February) Liverpool are confident of securing Salah to a new deal.
The Egypt superstar wants wages of £500,000-a-week to commit his future to the Merseyside giants.
“For a long time we thought how are they ever going to replace that front three,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“But now Liverpool clearly are thinking about it and have brought in some good younger players who will eventually step into that role.
“They’ll offer Firmino a new contract, quite clearly. There will be that transition period and also because they don’t want to lose him for nothing. That would be bad business sense.
“The issue is, when Salah signs a new deal, if that breaks the wage cap and breaks the bank then what do you do?
“Every other player will use that. They’ll say because he’s getting that then they want more.
“Obviously it won’t be the same as Salah but a level below and still more. It will be interesting to see how they manage that.
“If he signs for £500,000-a-week, Firmino and Mane will say they are the next level down so want £350,000-a-week.
“If they let Salah go and he doesn’t sign a deal, they can say ‘You’ve just lost him, do you want to lose me as well?’ That puts you in a strong position as well.
“There will be several players waiting to see what happens to Salah and how much money he gets.”
In other news, Jude Bellingham is ‘ready’ to sign for Liverpool after a source’s double deal reveal.