According to reports Manchester United is ready to outbid Liverpool for Hoffenheim attacking midfielder Roberto Firmino.
Prior to this news Liverpool were firm favourites to sign the 23-year-old Brazilian who manager Brendan Rodgers likens to Reds star Philippe Coutinho, and were ready to offer the Bundesliga side £18.6 million for his services.
And while Liverpool is yet to put their offer in Manchester United has jumped in to gazump the Merseysider’s with a bid of their own, with manager Louis van Gaal eager to make the play-maker a part of the team he is putting together at Old Trafford.
Liverpool of course could still up their offer and have both Coutinho and Lucas on board to help persude Firmino where his future lies, yet at the end of the day it may come down to who has qualified for the Champions League and who has not.
The two sides face a massive match at Anfield on Sunday that could go a long way in determining which team the Brazilian decides to sign for.
