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Roberto FirmIno has completed a move from 1899 Hoffenheim to Liverpool

LONDON. – Liverpool have completed a £29 million deal for Brazilian international Roberto Firmino after Anfield chief executive Ian Ayre flew to South America to pull-off the transfer coup.

Ayre arrived in Chile on Tuesday where Firmino is currently playing in the Copa America and worked through the night to seal a deal that makes the player the second most expensive in the club’s history.

Firmino (23) has agreed a five-year deal and will now require a work permit and need to pass a medical before officially moving to Merseyside.

That will take place after the Copa America has finished , with Brazil facing Paraguay in the quarter-final of the competition on Saturday.

Sources in Brazil have indicated the player has cost around €40 million, which is just under £30 million.

“It’s time to make the next step in my career, but at the moment I’m concentrating on the Copa America,” said Firmino when asked about Liverpool’s interest on Tuesday at a press conference for the national team.

“My future is in the hands of God.”

He has spent the last four seasons at 1899 Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga where his versatility as an attacking midfielder, who favours a role behind a striker, has seen him come to prominence and attract interest from the likes of Manchester United and neighbours City.

Liverpool already boast Firmino’s international team-mate Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana in their ranks but, in the likely departure of Raheem Sterling to Manchester City, he would bolster the club’s creativity.

Yet the move has not been dependent on Sterling leaving and the transfer represents a statement from the club in support of manager Brendan Rodgers, who ended the season under pressure and will begin the new campaign under fresh scrutiny.

Rodgers’ priority remains the recruitment of an out-and-out striker and he retains an interest in Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke although Liverpool are currently unwilling to match a release clause of £32,5 million.

Andy Carroll remains Liverpool most expensive signing at £35m having been recruited in 2011, but Firmino would out-strip the £24m fee paid for Lallana last summer.

Meanwhile, Bruce Grobbelaar says he would have loved Petr Cech at Liverpool as a replacement for Simon Mignolet.

Cech is closing in on a move to Arsenal after losing his first team place to Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea.

Arsenal have agreed a £10,9 million fee for Chelsea goalkeeper Cech.

The fee was one of the key elements outstanding as Arsenal edge closer to finalising the transfer of the Czech Republic international.

And despite the fact that Cech is now 33, Grobbelaar believes he still represents good value at £11 million.

Mignolet has struggled at times in the Liverpool goal and the former Reds star believes Cech could have done a job at Anfield.

Grobbelaar told talkSPORT: “I would have loved him at Liverpool for Simon Mignolet.

“But we’ve stuck with Mignolet, he improved the second half of last season and I hope he continues to grow and get better.

“Petr Cech is one of the finest goalkeepers I have seen and he has proved that in the Premier League.

“Even if you look at last season and average number of goals conceded, Cech had the lowest among the three ‘keepers at Chelsea.

“He will be a loss. Cech can still play for another five seasons, he has the experience, he is still the international ‘keeper for the Czech Republic and he is just a rock in goal.”

And Manchester United have approached Tottenham about Hugo Lloris.

The Red Devils are planning for life after David de Gea who looks increasingly likely to move to Real Madrid.

French paper L’Equipe report that United chief Louis van Gaal has made first contact with Spurs for the stopper.

They say Tottenham chief Daniel Levy has promised Lloris that he will be allowed to go if a big club comes in with an offer worth £17,8 million.

United certainly fit that bill and the De Gea saga could move towards a swift close if these reports prove true and United wrap-up his replacement.

The 20-times champions of England are interested in Jan Oblak, Jasper Cillessen and Iker Casillas but Spurs’ keeper looks to be at the top of their list.

They already have top-quality backup in the form of Victor Valdes whose future at Old Trafford must be in question as United continue to look for alternatives. – The Daily Express.