An expert's view on Roberto Firmino
Brazilian football expert Tim Vickery has whetted the appetite for the Anfield arrival of Roberto Firmino even further by outlining the goalscoring class he can bring to Liverpool.
It was announced on Wednesday morning that the Reds had completed a deal to sign the in-demand 23-year-old forward from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, subject to a medical.
Kopites were thrilled by the acquisition, taking to social media to express their delight as journalists, close followers of the German league and compatriots hailed the move.
Vickery has had the opportunity to assess Firmino since his debut for Brazil last November and the Maceio native has impressed at the ongoing Copa America too.
He sees the samba star's versatility in creative positions as a key quality, while the variety in the attacker's ability to find the net makes this an astute purchase in his view.
"He was picked up in a youth tournament by a not particularly glamorous club at the other end of the country, Figueirense," Vickery recounted to Liverpoolfc.com.
"And he played pretty well for them in the second division before being picked up by Hoffenheim still as a teenager.
"So he's really developed his career in Germany, and we have got to know him since last November, when he made his Brazil debut.
"So far he has played nine games for Brazil, five of them coming on as a substitute. So we haven't seen a great deal of him, but what we've seen has been pretty impressive.
"To have scored four goals in nine games, five of them as a substitute, is a pretty good return.
"What I like about him is his mobility and versatility; he's quick, he's mobile, his movement is intelligent. He can bang in goals from 30 yards - he has got an excellent long-range shot.
"His movement is good, to ghost in behind the final defender and get poacher's goals. He can combine with his back to goal.
"It seems to me that Liverpool have picked up a very promising young player."