Diogo Jota was Liverpool’s Plan B in the summer transfer window – but the signing couldn’t have worked out any better for the Reds.
Liverpool parted with £45million to land Portuguese striker Jota from Wolves.
The 23-year-old has hit the ground running at Anfield, needing absolutely no time to settle into his new surroundings.
Jota has scored seven in 10 appearances for the Reds including six in his past four games.
He’s given Klopp a real selection headache, given that Roberto Firmino has scored just once in 10 appearances for Liverpool.
And Jota appears to be the best player Liverpool could have signed at this very moment.
(Image: PA)
But Jota wasn’t actually Liverpool’s first choice forward when they decided, having earlier elected not to move for Timo Werner, to bolster their attack.
The Reds also considered a swoop for Watford striker Ismaila Sarr, but they cooled their interest when the Hertfordshire club demanded £45million – and wouldn’t budge on getting the bulk of it up front.
Liverpool quickly turned their attention to their other target, Jota, negotiated to pay Wolves just £4million of the potential £45million up front, and the rest is history.
(Image: NurPhoto/PA Images)
Klopp was delighted with Jota’s performance last time out for the Reds, with the Portuguese netting a hat-trick in Liverpool’s 5-0 win over Atalanta in the Champions League.
But the German insists Firmino’s place in the Reds starting XI isn’t under threat, despite competition for places heating up.
“Without Bobby Firmino we would not be in the Champions League even,” said Klopp.
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