Why Hoffenheim could not afford to reject Liverpool's £29m Firmino offer

Brazil forward Firmino is the second most expensive signing in Liverpool's history behind £35m Andy Carroll.

It was a fee the German club could not resist for a figure they paid £3m to sign from Brazil's Figueirense four years ago.

Firmino is a wonderful supplier and scorer of goals. He contributed 16 goals and 11 assists from 33 appearances for Hoffenheim in the 2013/14 season to earn the title of Germany's breakthrough player of the season.

"Many people at TSG (Hoffenheim) have helped to make Roberto Firmino the player he is today," sporting director Alexander Rosen told German publication Kicker.

"TSG Hoffenheim needs to make such transfers to ensure the profitability of the club. He is a big loss for our team, but we are convinced that we will have an exciting squad without Roberto.

"The money will not change our transfer plans. We planned our squad long-term and independently of the Firmino transfer. We want players that can take the next step in their careers here and which we can lift onto the next level."

Apart from Bayern Munich and perhaps Borussia Dortmund, there is not a club in the Bundesliga who would reject such a figure. Especially with the profit margins involved. Hoffenheim will be worse off without Firmino, but it is also probably necessary to attract future talent that they do not stifle a player's progress. Firmino joined Hoffenheim to prove himself in Europe.

He has achieved that goal quite dramatically, and moves nearer the summit of the game with his transfer to Liverpool. Hoffenheim have been well compensated for their loss. Of more concern regarding future trends in football, it is likely to become the norm. With the new Premier League television deal due to kick in from next season, clubs such as Hoffenheim may be resigned to losing their best talent to England for the foreseeable future.