Roberto Firmino is reportedly on the brink of signing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli.
During the closing months of the 2022-23 campaign, it was revealed that the forward was ready to end his eight-year association with Liverpool.
Rather than extend his legendary stint at Anfield past 362 appearances, from which he scored 111 goals, Firmino opted to take on a new challenge.
Given their respective issues with regards to a central-forward, Barcelona and Real Madrid have both been heavily linked with the Brazil international.
As well as being viewed as a key player at each of Camp Nou and the Santiago Bernabeu, acquiring a player of the 31-year-old's qualities on a free transfer would have been seen as a notable coup.
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However, in recent days, it has emerged that the versatile attacker has been in deep conversations about becoming the latest player to move to the Saudi Pro League.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) have a 75% stake in four clubs, providing them with the spending power to attract an increasing number of high-profile names to the Middle East.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Firmino has decided to take the opportunity presented to him at Al-Ahli, who have just earned a return to the top flight.
Romano, writing on Twitter, says that Firmino has reached a 'full verbal agreement' with last season's second-tier champions and will now undergo a medical in order to finalise a switch.
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The former Hoffenheim man is ready to pen a three-year contract at Al-Ahli, where he will link up with former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that the Senegal international would become the club's new number one, following N'Golo Kante to Al-Ittihad and Kalidou Koulibaly to Al-Hilal.
In the case of Hakim Ziyech, though, the Morocco international may not now move to Al-Nassr with journalist Santi Aouna reporting that a knee issue has been identified in his medical.
Nevertheless, it appears that Al-Nassr will be signing Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic to strengthen their options in the centre of the pitch.
Darren Plant
