The transfer news just doesn’t seem to stop after it emerged that Liverpool are interested in signing Wolves forward Diogo Jota, according to Paul Joyce of The Times.
Liverpool interested in Wolves forward Diogo Jota.
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) September 18, 2020
It follows shortly after a report from The Mail, that claimed Wolves are closing in on a £10 million deal to sign Liverpool defender Ki-Jana Hoever.
Hoever, 18, clocked up four appearances under Jurgen Klopp last season and could be off to the Midlands in an attempt to secure regular first-team football.
According to reputable Liverpool journalist Paul Gorst, the club are also interested in Watford speedster Ismaila Sarr although it is Wolves forward Jota who is top of the club’s priority list regarding potential attacking additions at Anfield this summer.
#LFC interested in signing Diogo Jota from Wolves. Ismaila Sarr also being looked at, but Wolves man top of the list at it stands. More to come soon on @LivEchoLFC
— Paul Gorst (@ptgorst) September 18, 2020
Jota could represent a cheaper attacking option for Liverpool given that Watford are reportedly holding out for a £40 million fee for Sarr, according to the Evening Standard.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson (right) breaks away from Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Diogo Jota during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool FC at Molineux on January 23, 2020 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
The report comes shortly after Jota was omitted from Wolves’ Carabao Cup squad during yesterday’s defeat to Stoke City despite the Portugal international travelling with the team and was spotted on the pitch before the game in his matchday tracksuit.
Asked why Jota wasn’t available and whether he would return for Monday’s match with Manchester City, Nuno responded: “I don’t know, we have to see. He was not on the squad list. Period.”
According to The Express and Star, Jota was thought to have left the stadium before the match even kicked off.
Interestingly, the ex-Porto boss also left the 23-year-old on the bench for Wolves’ Premier League opener against Sheffield United last weekend.
Jota clocked up 34 Premier League appearances last term – 27 of those being starts. He scored 16 goals in all competitions and registered six assists.
Rory Smith of The New York Times recently reported that a deal between Liverpool and Wolves for Jota was ‘pretty close’.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 26: Diogo Jota of Wolverhampton Wanderers runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on July 26, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
What RTK has to say
What a 24 hours it has been for Kopites!
Firstly, out of nowhere, Liverpool finally managed to get a deal over the line for the signing of Thiago Alcantara, before a reportedly revived interest in Sarr followed shortly after.
The following day was always going to be less dramatic but no one anticipated this.
Michael Edwards has since seemingly followed up his £20 million Thiago acquisition by negotiating a deal to offload Liverpool defender Hoever – a player who cost the club just £90,000 back in 2018 – in a £10 million deal.
It is also worth noting that Jota is represented by footballing superagent Jorge Mendes – who is a representative of Liverpool midfielder Fabinho.
Signing Jota would cap off a near-perfect window for Liverpool as the Portuguese forward has been a revelation at Molineux.
His potential Anfield arrival would represent a more than viable option to aid the attacking responsibilities currently on the shoulders of the club’s pedigreed front-three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
The transfer speculation isn’t set to calm down anytime soon with Liverpool expected to listen to offers for goalkeeper Loris Karius, midfielder Marko Grujic and winger Harry Wilson in the coming weeks. Xherdan Shaqiri’s future also remains uncertain.
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