manchester united sent scouts to watch brazilian attacking midfielder roberto firmino at hoffenheim this weekend the 23 year old, who has been in fine form in the bundesliga, is in high demand, with united the latest in a string of premier league clubs to show an interest everton, liverpool and arsenal have all considered bids for the 23 year old brazilian who has a release clause reputedly set at £145million sportsmail tells you everything you need to know about the hoffenheim forward roberto firmino celebrates scoring a late winner for his hoffenheim side against eintracht frankfurt  firmino scored the winning goal for brazil in just his second international game against austria last year  a skillful dribbler   in the past two seasons only lionel messi and eden hazard have embarked on more succesful dribbles in europe's top leagues   and with all the tricks and flicks you might expect from a brazilian international forward, firmino is an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal he is not an out and out goalscorer, as his record of 6 goals in 25 bundesliga games this season shows, but firmino is a capable finisher when the chance arises last season's tally of 16 goals for hoffenheim earned him his first brazil call up early this term, and he announced himself in the international stage with a stunning 25 yard strike into the top corner to earn the selecao a win against austria in just his second game the brazilian's shot from 25 yards flew into the top corner to earn him a first international goal  the brazilian shows off his excellent first touch as he keeps the ball away from two stuttgart defenders  however, it is not for his goalscoring exploits that louis van gaal will want the 23 year old, but his playmaking firmino loves to pick a pass, sliding through balls into the strikers from his position in behind, and has racked up 18 league assists since the start of last season to put that number in context, that's as many as manchester united's entire midfield against tottenham   juan mata, ander herrera, marouane fellaini, daley blind and michael carrick   have managed in the premier league over the past two seasons the brazilian is usually deployed behind the central striker, but can operate out wide on the left, where his pace and quick feet allow him to beat a man before picking out team mates with neymar, coutinho, oscar and willian in his position, firmino has done well to earn a brazil call up  the playmaker holds off a tackle as he embarks on one of his trademark runs in a recent game  as well as running past defenders with the ball he has a knack for making attacking runs from deep without it, posing a threat in behind whether coming from central areas on the wing and, when stationed wide on the left, firmino has the ability to cut inside and unleash a strike at goal with his favoured right foot, or trouble the full back down the outside with his trickery, causing defenders plenty of problems it remains to be seen if he is quick enough to be a dynamic no 10 in the premier league, but the performances in germany have earned praise from the likes of bayern munich sporting director mathias sammer firmino's dribbling, goals and assists have made him one of the hottest properties in the bundesliga  'firmino is a great player,' said sammer this week, although he ruled out the player moving to bayern but the player, his agent, and hoffenheim have all admitted he could well leave this season, alerting premier league clubs to the possibility of nabbing a star who is undoubtedly one of the bundesliga's hottest prospects
roberto firmino hoffenheim brazil lionel messi eden hazard manchester united
roberto firmino has been at hoffenheim for four years . this season the 23 year old won his first brazil caps . quick feet, an eye for goal and plenty of assists have caught the eye . firmino is only behind lionel messi and eden hazard in most dribbles . read: manchester united run rule over firmino 