Real Madrid have apparently joined the race to sign Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino on a free transfer this summer.
The Brazil international will bid his farewells to the Reds faithful on Sunday, taking on Southampton for what will be his final game in a Liverpool jersey before his contract expires in June.
Firmino's final two seasons at Anfield have been disrupted by injury, but the 31-year-old has still managed 10 Premier League goals this term and will be a wanted man this summer.
Several clubs in Italy, namely AC Milan and Inter Milan, are believed to have emerged as contenders to sign Firmino, while Barcelona were also linked with a move for the attacker.
Reports last month went as far to claim that Firmino had agreed a move to Camp Nou for the 2023-24 season, but the Brazilian is not believed to have made a decision on his future just yet.
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While Barcelona are no longer thought to be in the race to sign Firmino, journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that their Clasico rivals Real Madrid are now weighing up a move.
Romano adds that no talks have been initiated with Firmino's camp over a move, but he has admirers within the Bernabeu boardroom and is a name under discussion.
Karim Benzema is expected to agree a new deal to stay at Real Madrid for another season, but Los Blancos will be in the market for a new striker ahead of an expected wave of departures.
The out-of-favour Mariano Diaz will exit when his contract expires at the end of next month, while Marco Asensio is not expected to sign a new deal and is also set to leave on a free transfer.
Eden Hazard's contract only has another year left to run, and even though the Belgian has announced his desire to continue in the Spanish capital, he is believed to be attracting interest from MLS as Real try to offload him.
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Los Blancos are said to have shortlisted between four and five different attacking options for the summer transfer window, with big-name targets such as Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe also being mentioned.
Compared to Kane and Mbappe, Firmino would represent a low-cost acquisition as he prepares to end a trophy-laden eight-year spell at Anfield, having signed from Hoffenheim for £35.6m in 2015.
The South American attacker has scored 110 goals and set up 79 more in 361 matches for Jurgen Klopp's side, including 12 strikes and five assists from 34 games in all tournaments during the current campaign.
Firmino has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield with the Merseyside giants, who will also lose Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on free transfers this summer.
Firmino could make his final Liverpool start - and just his 13th in the current Premier League season - when the Reds meet already-relegated Southampton at St Mary's on Sunday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
