Bojan: Firmino would suit Barca

Bojan says Barcelona should sign Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino and end their interest in Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.

The Camp Nou outfit have been heavily linked with Argentinian frontman Martinez, while Manchester United and Chelsea are also believed to be interested in the 22-year-old.

With 19 goals in 32 matches this season, the number nine is an emerging talent, but former Stoke man Bojan believes Brazilian forward Firmino would be a better fit for the Catalan giants.

Firmino, 28, was a £29million from Hoffenheim in 2015, but his value has rocketed after five years under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

He has scored 77 goals for Liverpool and helped Jurgen Klopp's side win the Champions League last season and been an ever present this season for the Reds in their march towards the Premier League title.

Bojan told Sport: "Inter Milan do not usually take the initiative and that makes me think that Lautaro could occupy an area at Barca that is not naturally his. [That is] something that would certainly be a shame.

"If you allow me a name, I would bet more on Roberto Firmino: a link player, with a lot of presence and great mobility.

"I do not intend that this reflection be interpreted as a refusal to sign Martinez, but I understand that his profile must be analysed very well because it would be unforgivable that, as happened with Antoine Griezmann, we sign a striker to put him on the wing and then complain that it doesn’t work.

"That cannot happen again because, although it seems obvious, a nine is a nine. That is his natural habitat and to move him from there is to waste his talent. If Barca need a nine, sign him, but do it to really use him."

- TEAMtalk media