City may have already started making moves for players to join in the summer, with the Sunday People reporting that The Blues invited the agents of Hoffenheim midfielder Firmino to Eastlands this week, as they look to open talks about the 23-year-old Brazilian.
Since Firmino joined Hoffenheim from Figueirense in 2011, he has become hot property for the South German team and is being targeted by many top teams, both in the Bundesliga and elsewhere in Europe. City are allegedly hoping to persuade him to leave Germany behind this summer, and bring him to England.
The fee being mentioned for the midfielder currently stands at £20 million, but given his age and potential that fee could pale in comparison the value he could have in five years’ time.
However, whilst City may want to bring the Brazilian to England they might already be at a disadvantage in the race to sign him; Bayern Munich is reportedly his choice, and should they make a move for the 23-year-old, we’re all aware of the pull of the German giants.
The potential signing of Roberto Firmino could indicate that someone prestigious is possibly on their way out of the club. The Brazilian international is likely to want to leave his current club without assurances that he’ll be playing regularly in the City team next season, and without someone leaving it would be very difficult for Manuel Pellegrini – or whoever the manager is next year – to give him those assurances. Saying that, his age and his potential could make it worth City’s while to give him those assurances and bring him to the club this summer.
