HEIR TO THE THRONE

Photos: EPA By: Eshlin Vedan

Portuguese international striker Diogo Jota is the new “Fresh Prince of Liverpool”.

WITH Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield still the subject of speculation, Liverpool may have unearthed the Egyptian king’s successor in Diogo Jota.

Salah’s deal with the Reds expires in June 2023. This means that if he does not sign a new deal, he will ideally have to be sold at the end of this season if Liverpool are to get a good fee instead of risking losing him for a bargain, or in the worst case scenario for free come next year.

Liverpool will have to make a tough decision regarding Salah. To keep him, they will likely have to make him the highest paid footballer in the world, if not close to it. There is also no doubt that the vultures will soon begin to circle with astronomical salary offers.

But despite the Salah situation, Liverpool fans need not yet be too concerned.

Even with Salah being one of the best players in the Liverpool team, Jurgen Klopp’s side have shown they can function as a cohesive unit without him.

Jota has matured incredibly since joining Liverpool in 2020.

He has quietly been banging in the goals this season.

Jota’s star performances may have not been talked about too much due to Salah’s Ballon d’or nominee quality performances, but if the Portugal international can continue at his current level of progress, he could just be good enough to succeed Salah within a year.

Despite not being one of the tallest players, he is still strong in the air. And what he does not possess in terms of natural talent, he makes up for with his football intelligence. He is also versatile in terms of playing anywhere across the front line.

When he joined Liverpool from fellow Premiership outfit Wolves, some questioned why Klopp signed him. His versatility is very likely to have been the biggest point as the

German tactician looked to ease the workload of Salah, Sadio Mane and Bobby Firmino without compromising their own roles.

In Luis Diaz, Liverpool also have plenty of hope. The Colombian winger only joined Liverpool in January and fits into the Reds’ tactical system so smoothly that one could easily be fooled into thinking that he’s been playing with the team for a few years.

Salah remains arguably the best attacker in the Premier League and Liverpool. However, Jota has proved this season that Liverpool now have yet another world-class and match-winning attacker in their side.

Bottom: Jota could be good enough to succeed Mohamed Salah within a year.

Diogo Jota has matured incredibly since joining Liverpool in 2020.