Liverpool and Manchester United Set for Summer Battle over Roberto Firmino - Report

Liverpool and Manchester United are keeping a close eye on Hoffenheim's Roberto Firmino and are planning a bid in the summer to secure his services, according to the Sunday People.

Both clubs have reportedly been scouting the player for quite some time and are very interested in the 22-year-old playmaker who has also attracted interest from Italy in the form of Inter Milan.

Both clubs are looking to strengthen in the summer and his acquisition will give them a long term cover in that area, where both teams are equally short.

United have Juan Mata and Shinji Kagawa to deputise in that position but the Japanese international, having fallen out of favour with David Moyes, has been linked with a move out of the club.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have Philippe Coutinho in that area but do not have any other player of the same pedigree to fill in that position during his absence.

Firmino, known for his profiency in front of goal, has already scored 12 goals and assisted eight in the Bundesliga, a remarkable return for a player this young.

Both teams are likely to go toe in toe for his signature, with Liverpool looking for a better option at this point, given their position in the race for a Champions league spot.

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney believes that his side deserved to win against West Bromwich Albion, something which has given them some much needed confidence ahead of games against Olympiacos and Liverpool, a period which will decide their season.

"It is a confidence-booster. We've got Liverpool and Olympiacos next, where we're two goals behind [after the first leg], followed by West Ham and Manchester City. They're all big games. It's a good challenge and it's down to us as players to take that challenge on and show everyone we're a good team that means business," Rooney said after the game.

"We were hurt after the Olympiacos game, and we needed to go out and show everyone that we are a good team. We'll fight for the shirt, and we'll fight for a place in the team, and I think that showed today. We played with a great energy, we were exciting and we always looked a threat, so I think we deserved the three-goal win. And it could have been more," he concluded.