Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed he had been monitoring Diogo Jota‘s progress at Wolves for two to three years before the Reds decided to sign him earlier this month.
There was very little forewarning of the Merseyside club’s move for the Portuguese international prior to the £45m transfer being sealed but Klopp confirmed that plans had been in place to snap up the 23-year-old for a while:
“It’s so difficult to improve a team like ours, to bring in players who fit in exactly, but I know for a while about Diogo Jota. He’s been on my list for two or three years already—but it needs to be the right moment. So I’m really happy that he’s here now and it’s been a great start.”
Liverpool’s scouting system is very much in a league of its own at the moment with the club using data analysis to identify key targets before Klopp decides which would fit his system. Supporters on Twitter are in awe of the club’s recruitment strategy:
Wow incredible scouting
— allan (@allan_ynwa) September 29, 2020
That is good recruitment
— N (@Lpostcode) September 29, 2020
I want that list
— Perry (@Perry06675126) September 29, 2020
Quadruple incoming
— Marvin (@_MarvinOnyango) September 29, 2020
Great stuff
— Dean LFC ?????? (@1iverpoolfc) September 29, 2020
So I expect that Jota is gonna be a World class
— Don Puixote (@Psheinstein) September 29, 2020
Congrats to our scouting men!
— Victor Kinta (@VictorKinta6) September 30, 2020
He’s a carbon copy of our front 3 and 16 goals last season suggests he’s a really good finisher will score even more in our team with how much we create
— Iain (@tailso1988) September 29, 2020
If Jota tears up the league we won't even need Mbappe.
— Thiago No. 6 (@ukboffin1) September 29, 2020
Of course, there is a way to go before we can certify Jota as a successful signing but he has definitely made an excellent start after scoring on his league debut. He looks to be a perfect alternative for Sadio Mane on the left-hand side.
