Juventus will reportedly demand that Roberto Firmino is included in any deal involving Adrien Rabiot with Liverpool.
Rabiot only has 12 months left to run on his contract at the Allianz Stadium and has been strongly linked with an exit as the club prepare to welcome Paul Pogba back for a second stint.
In spite of reports claiming that Liverpool were postponing their search for a new midfielder until the summer of 2023, Rabiot has been tipped to head to Anfield in recent weeks.
The Reds were allegedly formulating a swap deal involving Naby Keita - who will also become a free agent next year - but that will seemingly not suffice for Juventus.
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Old Lady would be after a part-exchange deal with Firmino to sanction Rabiot's exit, with the Brazilian also facing an uncertain long-term future.
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Like Rabiot and Keita, Firmino has also entered the final year of his contract, and Liverpool are running the risk of losing the Brazil international on a free transfer next summer.
Jurgen Klopp's side are expected to table an extension to the former Hoffenheim man, who will have added competition in the form of Darwin Nunez for the 2022-23 season.
Firmino also spent a good chunk of last season in the treatment room, during which Diogo Jota and the now-departed Sadio Mane would often spearhead the Reds' attack, with AC Milan-bound Divock Origi in reserve.
Firmino still managed 11 goals and five assists in 34 appearances across all competitions, and there is nothing to suggest that the 30-year-old could head for the Anfield exit door this summer.
The forward has now spent seven years on Merseyside, during which he has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup, as well as registering 98 goals and 74 assists in 326 matches.
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Meanwhile, Rabiot has amassed six goals and six assists in 129 outings for Juventus since joining on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, and he was a regular fixture under Massimiliano Allegri last season.
Rabiot made 45 appearances across all competitions - including 28 starts in Serie A, providing two assists - and he recently affirmed that he had no plans to leave the Old Lady ahead of the World Cup.
"I have not talked about it with the club. I try to stay focused on the national team and let my agent do it. I am under contract with Juve and nothing indicates to me that I will leave. As for the World Cup, it would have nothing to do with my decision. It wouldn't affect my choice," Rabiot told reporters.
Nevertheless, Liverpool are still expected to wait another 12 months before spending big on a new central midfielder, but Borussia Dortmund will likely demand in excess of £100m for Jude Bellingham.
In the meantime, the Reds have tied James Milner down to a new one-year deal and have supposedly shelved plans to sell Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Ben Knapton
