Former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino who joined Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli in July is ‘preparing to leave’ the club, reports have suggested.
Firmino signed a three-year deal at the Jeddah-based club after it was confirmed that his contract at Liverpool would not be renewed following a productive spell featuring 111 goals in 362 games.
He is said to have agreed a financial package worth £17m per season as he joined the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Franck Kessie and Allan Saint-Maximin at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium.
And he made the perfect start to life in Saudi Arabia, scoring a hat-trick on his debut against Al Hazem.
Firmino, however, has struggled to find the net since. In fact, after he failed to find the net in 10 games, fans began to grow frustrated at his lack of input.
Now, the Brazilian forward is ‘preparing to leave’ the Saudi Pro League side with 18 appearances to his name, say French publication Foot365.
Firmino, who is said to be frustrated by Al Ahli’s system, has attracted interest from teams based in England and Turkey, as well as other Saudi-based clubs, according to talkSPORT.
Al Ahli are also willing to let the former Hoffenheim forward go out on loan in January but would prefer to keep Firmino in the Middle East.
That being said, Premier League strugglers Sheffield United were reportedly monitoring his situation under former manager Paul Heckingbottom but Chris Wilder’s arrival may throw that move into doubt.
Firmino, meanwhile, is ‘open’ to making a return to Europe or his native Brazil.
Bobby Firmino faces an uncertain future at Al-Ahli after struggling for game time under Matthias Jaissle.
Al-Ahli open to a loan within Saudi, but interested clubs need them to pay the majority of his wages. Al-Ettifaq, for example, can’t proceed unless Al-Ahli still assume
A number of Saudi Pro League sides are also interested, including Al Shabab, Al Fateh and Al Ettifaq, who are managed by Firmino’s former teammate Steven Gerrard.
In fact, Gerrard recently opened up about Firmino.
“I obviously know Bobby extremely well, I’ve been a massive fan. I’ve followed him for years,” he told talkSPORT.
“At the moment he’s Al Ahli’s player so it’s very difficult for me to comment on that situation.
“But I’ve loved Bobby Firmino since the first day I watched him and I’m a huge fan. He belongs to another club, so I won’t sit here and name names.”
