Diogo Jota has signed a new five-year contract at Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp keen on avoiding a repeat that saw Sadio Mane leave in a cut-price move this summer.
The Portugal star has been rewarded with a significant pay rise and a new deal until 2027, having impressed since arriving from Wolves in a £45million move two years ago. It is a huge signal of intent from the Reds and manager Klopp, who sees Jota as a huge part of the club's long-term future.
Discussions between sporting director Julian Ward and Jota's agent Jorge Mendes have been ongoing throughout the summer and the club have finally got the new deal over the line. Klopp will now be hoping Jota, who has scored 34 goals in his two seasons at the club, continues his fine form and can possibly fill the void left by Mane.
Jota told Liverpool's website: “Well, [I’m] really proud, I have to say. Obviously since I arrived two years ago I established myself as an important player in this team – that’s what I wanted from the beginning.
“Now, signing a new long-term deal, it’s obviously from the club’s perspective proof of the belief in myself as a player. For me, obviously it’s really good to establish I’ll be here for a while. So, the beginning of a new season, let’s do it.”
Jota is currently recovering a hamstring injury that has prevented him from taking part in the club's pre-season preparations. He added: “Unfortunately for me I had an upset in this pre-season because I got injured [in the] last game of the season playing with Portugal.
"So I was coming back in this pre-season, I felt it a little bit again. So it will be a few more weeks, I would say. When you fight for everything, like we did last year, you just want to do it again and to do it better, because it’s possible.
“That drive is in me and I know it’s in my teammates and all the staff. We have everything to fight for those titles out there.” Indeed, Jota and his team-mates will be hoping they can fight for trophies this season despite the exit of Mane.
Mane, 30, completed a £35million move to Bayern in June to end his six-year spell on Merseyside. The Senegal international was undoubtedly one of Liverpool's star players, scoring 23 goals in all competitions last season to help them win the FA Cup and EFL Cup.
Liverpool were forced to sell Mane to Bayern at a bargain price after he entered the final year of his contract. The prolific forward is regarded as one of the finest players on the planet, inspiring Senegal to their maiden Africa Cup of Nations triumph in February.
The Reds did not want to lose another top forward in Jota and have now moved swiftly to show their commitment to him. Klopp will be hoping his Portuguese star can return the favour.
The Reds open their Premier League campaign this weekend with a visit to newly-promoted Fulham, before hosting Crystal Palace. They the face a tricky visit to Old Trafford, where they will come up against Erik ten Hag's Manchester United.
