Liverpool make enormous gesture to stop Roberto Firmino following Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool lost Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for £143million even though the Reds were adamant that they wanted to keep midfielder.

In the end the player’s desire to move to the Nou Camp forced through the deal and he was unveiled as a Barca player on Monday.

But Liverpool are trying to ensure that does not happen again and they want to offer Firmino a lifetime contract.

The Brazilian still has two years left on his existing deal which he signed after joining from Hoffenheim for £29m.

Jurgen Klopp is expected to reinvest the Coutinho transfer kitty back into the squad this month.

And according to the Telegraph, Firmino will be one of the first beneficiaries with a bumper new contract.

The Liverpool hierarchy are keen to make sure that Reds do not turn into a selling club like Borussia Dortmund did under Klopp.

Instead they want to protect their prized assets to challenge for the evasive Premier League title.

Firmino has been in fine form this season netting 16 goals.

But he has been eclipsed by Egyptian Mohamed Salah who has scored 24 times.

And Real Madrid are rumoured to be interested in taking him to the Bernabeu.

However, Klopp will be keen not to lose any more star players, especially in this transfer window.