Diogo Jota: Why Liverpool face transfer tug-of-war with Newcastle

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 10 Mar 2023 20:02 GMT
• 11 min read

Liverpool are set to be drawn into a summer transfer dogfight with Newcastle over Diogo Jota - and given the level of the player, they will be fighting tooth and nail to retain him.

The attacker is yet to score for the Reds this term but he still remains a crucial player. His last strike came in April of last year, but Jota is still a popular player at Anfield.

As writer Sam McGuire details, last season, he finished with 15 goals despite appearing in little over 2,300 top-flight minutes. Mohamed Salah, Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane were the only players to better the Portugal international's campaign.

His flexibility has been a strength, filling in either as a false 9 for Robert Firmino or as a winger in place of the currently injured Luis Diaz.

EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle eye Liverpool's Diogo Jota for £60m

Newcastle are huge fans of Jota’s versatility on the forward line, not only as a striker but also on the wing or in behind the No.9, while there is a case that Jota can be a success as a No.10, leading the middle of Eddie Howe’s 4-3-3.

With a price tag of around £60 million, there is a risk in his signing.

Last season, Jota averaged 2.3 shots per 90, now down to 0.88. Of course, being played further away from the goal can account for this, but even his crossing volume is down. Last season he averaged 0.61, but now he hits 0.41.

That said, Jota does notch up 2.1 key passes per 90 this time around - an improvement on last season. And 1.64 chances created in each full match is another eye-catching figure.

Howe has to contend with the void left by Chris Wood and a misfiring Callum Wilson. Alexander Isak is still finding his feet and would represent a gamble if Newcastle opt to use him as their main source of goals for the next season.

The club are in need of fresh faces to realise their ambition of earning regular Champions League spots, and eventually going on to be title contenders, something that ever so faintly looked possible earlier this season when they enjoyed a great run just before the World Cup in November.

But with Firmino leaving, Liverpool are short up front. If that wasn’t reason enough they should keep him, in 2021/22 Jota was the second-best performing striker in the Premier League, according to SciSports data. He was exceptional at offensive positioning so he could get into great areas in the final third and inside the box. He was also excellent at finishing off chances when he got them from crosses both with headers and close shots, which bodes well when you have Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson in your team.

Diogo Jota v Premier League centre forwards: 2021/22

He also showed versatility and was also one of the best-performing wingers when he played on the left flank, our data reveals. He outperformed Sadio Mane on his spot, which could be a reason why Liverpool were comfortable selling the Senegalese last summer to Bayern Munich. What stands out here was his pressing in the high up the pitch and winning duels - something that Jurgen Klopp really values in his attackers

But as mentioned before, he struggles with dribbling and crossing. This is where Gakpo, Diaz and even Darwin Nunez outweigh the former Wolves man. He has struggled with injuries and now has lots of competition on that side.

Newcastle’s lack of goals

The lack of goals is Newcastle’s biggest concern and it will have to be addressed in the upcoming window. Allan Saint-Maximin may be out the door and this could provide a windfall to meet Liverpool’s valuation of Jota.

As for the player, no doubt he will want to stay at Anfield - which is why he penned fresh terms over the summer for another five years - but the prospect of being an ambitious club’s new focal point in attack, getting minutes and potentially European football, could well be key in deciding his future.

Jota will have to be near Newcastle’s record move - the highest at the moment being Isak who joined from Real Sociedad for about £60m - and his wages will have to be close to or perhaps over the Swede’s as well - £120k per-week. Nevertheless, what he could provide them may well seem worth it.