Jota - why Liverpool man is on Newcastle’s radar

Jacque Talbot

• 10 Mar 2023 12:20 CST
• 4 min read

Diogo Jota is being watched by Newcastle over a summer move but Liverpool will be extremely reluctant to sell - and so they should.

The attacker is yet to score for the Reds this term but he still remains a crucial player.

Without a goal since April of last year, Jota is still a popular player at Anfield.

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

Jota had been used as a fill-in for Roberto Firmino through the middle, but now Liverpool have Cody Gakpo, this time fulfilling the false-nine role. With the signing of Luis Diaz, Jota has been used out on the wing.

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

Nursing a return from injury and reentering the pitch in September as a second striker Jota has struggled to find form and remains goalless this campaign.

Newcastle will be huge fans of Jota’s versatility on the forward line, not only as a striker, but also on the wing, 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 433.

It would pose a slight risk for a high price, some £60 million being the figure.

Last season, Jota averaged 2.3 shots per 90,now down to 0.88. Of course, being played further away from 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 the same time is significant as well.

Howe will have to contend with the void left by Chris Wood. Plus the fact that Callum Wilson has been underfiring is cause for concern.

Alexander Isak is still finding his feet and would pose a gamble if Newcastle opts 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.

With Firmino leaving, Liverpool are a bit 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. Jota was 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.

He also showed versatility and was also one of the best-performing wingers when he played on the left flank, our data reveals. He also outperformed Sadio Mane on his spot, which maybe could be a reason why Liverpool were comfortable selling the Senegalese

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 Nune 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 be 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 to 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.