Liverpool have finally added another piece of armour to their frightening attack. A versatile back-up for the front three has been on many peoples minds and finally Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp alongside sporting director Michael Edwards made the deal happen signing Portuguese international Diogo Jota.
The 23-year-old has joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee which can rise up to £45 million. He has signed a long-term contract which was reportedly five years and will wear the number 20 on the back of his shirt.
He became a Liverpool player less than 24 hours after the news had broke that Liverpool were only interested in him and nothing concrete was done yet. The scenario was very similar to the Fabinho signing. No one knew a deal was on the cards then the day after he was pictured in a Liverpool kit. It is how business has been conducted ever since Virgil Van Dijk’s day out to Blackpool with Klopp which ended up with Liverpool having to formally apologise to Southampton and look like fools.
That type of fiasco simply does not happen anymore hence why when there is a concrete rumour for a new signing it is mayhem all day. Excitement and anticipation that the signing might happen within the next couple of days. Thiago and Jota were both confirmed a day after the links were strong, two in two days, it has been a pleasant surprise for Liverpool fans and a not so pleasant one for rival supporters.
So why has Jota been signed? Well the back-up for the front three last season did not really do the job that was needed of them. Their job is not to just provide cover when needed it is to provide healthy competition. Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri simply did not do that. To be fair to Origi when starting he more often than not scored a goal but off the bench he did not have any sort of impact big enough that has been needed. He is not a winger. Whilst Shaqiri was simply just injured too much.
With Jota signing it can help everyone including these two. Origi can now play through the middle when needed and show his natural goalscoring skills if he stays. Shaqiri now knows he has competition for the back-up role so will have to up his game. Oxlade-Chamberlain, when back from injury, can return to his favoured midfield position instead of having to fill in on either flank. The pressure on the front three will also be eased with the new addition.
At just 23 years old Klopp will be eager to work with and develop Jota. He has a lot of similarities to Mane when he first joined Liverpool. An electric forward who can play anywhere up top who needs to find the consistency to take him to the next level.
Jurgen Klopp said: “He’s a player who gives us so many options to use him. He’s 23 years old, still far away from being kind of a finished article, so much potential. He has the speed, he can combine, can defend, can press.
“It makes it just more unpredictable and gives us real options for different systems because he can play pretty much all three positions up front in a 4-3-3, if we play with four midfielders he can play both wings.”
So evidently Klopp is looking forward to working with the former Atletico Madrid man who managed to score 16 times last season with also 6 assists. The season before that he netted 10 times, so he is progressing with his output. Klopp will be eager to get him to similar numbers to Mane and co but there is no pressure or rush due to how young he is.
Jota said about the front three that “I want to be one more piece to join that three. That’s what I will do. They are obviously more experienced than me, so the first stage is to connect with them, to learn with them.
“Hopefully I can be a good help for them and the club to win games.”
He has the potential to be a top-level signing given the right time and coaching. Everyone knows how well Klopp develops and nurtures potential so Jota should be great fun to watch. He is already shown that with his scouse catchphrase he done in the announcement videos.
“What’s appenin’?” Jota said and then everyone including himself started laughing. Hopefully, the quadruple will be what’s happening by the end of the season then everyone can have a laugh at that.
Written by Elliot Thompson
