Success at the very elite level of football depends on constant evolution and strength in depth that enables healthy squad rotation.
Manchester City have overcome that hurdle in recent years with the signings of Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva, amongst others.
For Liverpool, they look set to meet that challenge in the upcoming transfer window after a few years of great success at Anfield. A Champions League title and impending Premier League crown means that Jurgen Klopp could be creating the most decorative period in the club’s recent history.
As a result, looking to sign more top players will be at a number one priority for the Reds. A long affiliation to Timo Werner could be about to reach its climax, but the Premier League also boasts a number of talents that Klopp could look to recruit.
One of those is Wolves forward 23-year-old Diogo Jota who has been impressive under Nuno Espirito Santo in recent years.
Jota might have already earned the respect of Liverpool supporters by insisting that the Reds deserve to be handed the Premier League title no matter what happens this summer.
But Jota doesn’t deserve to be touted as a potential signing purely based on generous claims. A total of 15 goals in all competitions from a left forward position this season has seen him become a real threat in the Premier League.
His contributions from the left would link him most closely to the role that Sadio Mane carries out. But that’s only where the similarities begin.
Mane’s arrival on Merseyside for a then-considerable £34million in 2016 saw Liverpool investing significantly in a player that had shown many traits to hint he could become a world class talent.
21 goals and 13 assists in his final two campaigns with Southampton rightfully earned him a big money move to Liverpool. In the 2015/16, Mane’s contributions had helped the Saints to a 6th-place finish to guarantee Europa League football and place three points above Liverpool in 8th.
Similarly, Jota has recorded 25 goals and 13 assists in his previous two campaigns with Wolves. That number is even more impressive when you consider they have been the only two seasons for the 23-year-old in the English top-flight.
Jota’s situation lends even closer similarity to Mane’s previous time at Southampton given that Wolves currently sit in 6th position and firmly in contention for a top four finish when play restarts.
Read More
Must-read Liverpool FC news
If Jota was to switch for Liverpool in the summer, the similarities between the two would be uncanny. However, the progression the 23-year-old has shown this season suggests that he could be ready for that big move.
In a 3-4-3 system alongside Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez, Jota plays on the left in a similar role to that of Mane’s at Liverpool. Attacking involvement from the wing-backs allows the Portuguese player to adopt a more inverted position that creates goal-scoring opportunities.
Jota’s 15 goals in all competitions this season sees him as the club’s second top-scorer, only bettered by the prolific Jimenez as a centre forward. Mane’s 18 goals in all competitions proves to be slightly better than the 23-year-old and shows the type of standard that he has set in recent years.
Nevertheless, the two players prove to have similar levels of attacking involvement. Jota has taken 2.61 shots per 90 in the league this season, while Mane slightly less with 2.32 per 90. However, Mane’s accuracy is significantly better with 0.57 league goals per 90 compared to Jota’s 0.29. As shown below, the Wolves forward is more likely to shoot from unlikely goal-scoring positions than Mane.
Similarities in playing style
Therefore, it is fair to say that elements of Jota’s attacking contributions would need to be developed if he were to sign for Liverpool. However, that is something Klopp has done incredibly well with Mane as the Senegalese forward continues to improve.
What will be important in Jota’s progression is continued involvement in the final third to translate overall involvements into goal-scoring contributions.
Jota and Mane both register fairly high passes in the final third with 2.61 and 2.68 respectively which further highlights the similarities between the two.
More than anything, the way in which Mane has turned from an unpredictable winger into a prolific goal-scorer should be an encouraging sign for Jota. Any move for the 23-year-old would only be done on the basis that the Reds could get the best out of him as they have with Mane and Salah.
For Jota, continuing to demonstrate his attacking attributes will be crucial to getting a move to Anfield. The last two seasons in the Premier League has seen him forge a deadly partnership with Jimenez, it’s now a question of whether he can take it to the next level like Mane has since 2016.
Liverpool don"t have to look far to find the next Sadio Mane - Liverpool Echo
0 Comments: