Roberto Firmino has established himself as a top striker in Europe but his talents may not have been discovered on the continent if it wasn't for the efforts of an emerging Bundesliga club.

The 25-year-old is enjoying a stellar second season at Liverpool following his £29million move from Hoffenheim in June 2015.

Firmino had been with the Bundesliga outfit since January 2011 and one of their scouts Lutz Pfannenstiel has revealed how the Brazilian was discovered.

Roberto Firmino's move to Hoffenheim in 2011 was off the back of clever scouting

Firmino joined the German club for £3.5million from Brazilian outfit Figueirense in 2011

Hoffenheim scout Lutz Pfannenstiel has revealed how the Bundesliga club found Firmino

Speaking on talkSPORT, the former goalkeeper spoke with presenter Paul Hawksebee about how they eventually conclude a £3.5m transfer from Brazilian side Figueirense.

Hawksebee said: 'Lutz, you were saying with Firmino, you and a colleague found him, did all the work on it and he went to Hoffenheim for £3.5m quid?'

Pfannenstiel admitted that he feared that the deal may have been initally too much but is pleased with the final outcome of Firmino's time at Hoffenheim.

Firmino left Hoffenheim for Liverpool in a £29m move in June 2015

'Yeah, '£3.5m roughly,' he replied to Hawksebee. 'If you're getting a guy from the second league in Brazil, only 17 – 18-years-old.

'Straight away people think he needs to play in the first team directly.

'So people were saying you've paid that amount for a player who hasn't made it yet.

'In the end we sold him for €42m plus [future] payments, so in the end I think we did it right.

'I think it's good scouting, definitely.

'His value will probably be growing in the next two-three years. But with players from South America you never have a guarantee, because you don't know how they will develop. You don't have a clear idea.'

Firmino has scored five goals and provided three assists in 10 Premier League games for Liverpool this season and will be keen to add to his tally when they travel to Southampton on Saturday afternoon.