Liverpool attacker Roberto Firmino will reportedly leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The Brazil international has been an integral cog in Jurgen Klopp's machine since arriving at Anfield in 2015, but he is due to become a free agent in a few months' time.
The signings of Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo led to intense speculation surrounding a possible exit for Firmino, who is free to discuss pre-contract terms with foreign clubs.
Despite his fitness struggles over the past couple of seasons, Liverpool were thought to have been keen to agree a new short-term deal with Firmino, who is a highly valued member of Klopp's squad.
Last month, the 31-year-old's agent Roger Wittman claimed that his client was in positive discussions with Liverpool over a new contract, telling Sky Deutschland: "It's a very long relationship between Roberto and Liverpool.
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"Roberto feels good. At the moment, we're in a great exchange and in February we'll probably know where the journey is going. But Roberto also has to have a say in order to reach an agreement with Liverpool. We're on the right track (and) we're having really good talks with Liverpool. They're a superbly positioned club."
However, journalist Florian Plettenberg now claims that Firmino has decided to leave Liverpool as a free agent at the end of the season, and he informed Jurgen Klopp of his decision on Friday.
Plettenberg claims that the player and manager engaged in a "good talk" at the end of Friday's training session, and Firmino vowed to give his all for the club until he walks out of the door in July.
Firmino is not believed to have made a decision on his next club, but he has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr as well as German champions Bayern Munich, where former Reds teammate Sadio Mane currently plies his trade.
Atletico Madrid are also said to be considering a move for Firmino as a replacement for Joao Felix, whose loan deal to Chelsea could be made permanent in the summer transfer window.
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Since leaving Hoffenheim to join Liverpool in a €41m (£36.3m) deal in 2015, Firmino has made 352 appearances for Klopp's side in all competitions, scoring 107 goals and setting up 78 more.
Thriving in a deep-lying attacking role, Firmino has won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Community Shield during his time at Anfield.
The Brazil international made a strong start to the 2022-23 season, scoring twice and providing three assists in the 9-0 demolition of Bournemouth back in August, but he has since been a peripheral figure following a calf injury.
Firmino has nine goals and four assists to show from 25 games in all tournaments this season, and he was left out of Brazil's squad for the 2022 World Cup.
The 31-year-old has not started a Premier League game since November, and he is expected to be named on the bench again when the Reds host Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
