Roberto Firmino’s contract at Liverpool includes an unusual ‘anti-Arsenal’ clause, according to the latest documents released by the Football Leaks group.

The Brazil international, who arrived on Merseyside from Hoffenheim for £29m in the summer of 2015, has a €98m (£82.6m) release clause which can be triggered by any club except the Gunners.

Arsenal infamously offered £40,000,001 for Luis Suarez while he was still a Liverpool player in 2013, believing the extra £1 would trigger a break clause in the Uruguayan’s contract.

Liverpool refused to release Suarez, with the club’s owner John Henry tweeting: “What do you think they're smoking over there at Emirates?”

Suarez subsequently left Liverpool the following summer, joining Barcelona for a fee thought to be in the region of £75m.



The clause in Firmino’s contract, published in the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, appears to have been written with Arsenal’s unsuccessful pursuit of Suarez in mind.

Firmino has made an impressive start to his second full season in English football, scoring five goals and registering three assists in 13 Premier League matches.

The 25-year-old forward’s current deal at Liverpool expires in 2022.

Liverpool January transfer targets Show all 7 1 /7 Liverpool January transfer targets Liverpool January transfer targets Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) The Merseyside club failed with an £11m bid for the 18-year-old striker in the summer, but may try their hand at signing him again this January. Pulisic is one of Europe's most highly-rated teenagers, having already made his international debut for the United States. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Virgil van Dijk (Southampton) It would not be a transfer window without Liverpool being linked with somebody from Southampton. This time it's Van Dijk, who has emerged as one of the Premier League's best centre-halves since arriving on the south coast from Celtic. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen) Jurgen Klopp is reportedly keen to strengthen his defence and the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back would be a good addition for the Reds. The German Tah is only 20 years of age but has impressed for both club and country this season. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Paul-Georges Ntep (Rennes) The left-midfielder’s deal at Rennes expires at the end of the season and so he will be free to sign a pre-contract in January. A strong dribbler of the ball, Ntep has been made two appearances for France. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon) Seeing as Roberto Firmino is not a natural no. 9 and Daniel Sturridge has fallen out of favour, Liverpool have been linked with several strikers including French forward Alexandre Lacazette. The Lyon striker is quick, explosive and has already reached double figures this season. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao) The Athletic Bilbao youngster signed a new contract in January with a release clause of €50m, but the rumours linking him with Anfield have not died down. The 22-year-old would certainly fit in with Jurgen Klopp’s style of play. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Mahmoud Dahoud (Borussia Monchengladbach) Jurgen Klopp has long admired the Germany under-21 midfielder, who plies his trade with Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany. Klopp will have to do battle with former club Dortmund to sign the German, while Italian giants Juventus are also interested. Getty

The disclosure of Firmino’s contract is one of the latest revelations to be made by the Football Leaks group, which has spent the past two years publishing confidential information from within the game.