Liverpool and Arsenal target Patson Daka hits quickest hat-trick in Austrian Bundesliga history

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 19:16 BST
• 3 min read

Patson Daka has long been a transfer target for the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal, and the RB Salzburg forward made a statement of intent on Sunday.

The prolific forward struck the fastest hat-trick in Austria Bundesliga history, netting three times in just eight minutes as he singled-handedly put Sturm Graz to the sword.

He already had a Perfect 10 Rating on FootballCritic before the match had reached half-time, helping to retain his team’s chances of clinching the title once again.

Daka is comfortably one of the most sought-after players in the Bundesliga, and is now on 23 goals for the season in under 2000 minutes played after this haul.

Arsenal’s need for another option in attack intensified following their poor 3-0 home loss to Liverpool in which the entire team failed to land three shots on target in 90 minutes – something that Daka had achieved within 11 minutes of this clash.

• READ MORE: Who is Patson Daka?

Liverpool have also been linked in the past given their relationship with RB Salzburg – they signed Takumi Minamino from them last season, while both Sadio Mane and Naby Keita started out there before moving to the Premier League.

Official confirmation: With three goals in 11 minutes, Patson #Daka today scored the fastest hat-trick in Austrian Bundesliga history! #RBSSTU pic.twitter.com/SwymSaRnJF

— FC Red Bull Salzburg EN (@FCRBS_en) April 4, 2021

Erling Haaland’s recent success also shows the quality of the production line in Salzburg, while Dominik Szoboszlai has also taken the step up to RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga.

Patson Daka: 20/21 statistics

And Daka appears to be the next one from the production line. Daka now has a stunning 35 goals in all competitions, including five in AFCON qualifying for Zambia and strikes in the Austrian Cup and in the Champions League.

He is in his fourth season at RB Salzburg now, and having netted 24 league goals last season, he may feel that the time is right to take a step up in his career to play at a higher level – he is still just 22 years of age.

Daka has a contract until 2024 so it would require a substantial offer to Salzburg to persuade them to sell. Given the situation in the transfer market post-coronavirus, that may be the biggest stumbling block to Daka moving this summer.