“The real deal” – Ex-Liverpool hero labels £41m star as the ‘signing of the season’

Michael Owen believes Liverpool forward Diogo Jota is the best signing in the league this season

Speaking to BT Sport (h/t Daily Mail), former Liverpool striker and 2001 Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen has hailed Liverpool forward Diogo Jota as the ‘signing of the season’.

Liverpool signed the Portuguese forward for £41m

from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer. Jota has gone on to score 9 times this season in his first 15 appearances for the club.

Michael Owen believes that not everyone expected the 23-year-old to hit the ground running in such a fashion and that he was arguably the best signing this season by any club.

“No one could’ve predicted that he would hit the ground running like he has. You’d have to say he’s the best signing of the season so far in the Premier League. He’s surprised me with his pace, I must admit. I think he’s far quicker than I gave him credit for. Against Atalanta he was electric.”

Owen further went on to highlight the strengths in Jota’s game and claimed that he was a complete forward.

“He just shows composure. A lot of people panic, they just get a shot off as soon as they get any form of space. I just think he’s scored headers, right foot, left foot, he’s scored everything so far and he’s looked the real deal in terms of linking play. Nobody could have envisaged the quality that he’s shown.”

The Portuguese was signed as a quality backup for our front three but the quality that he has shown in his time here so far makes him a worthy contender for starts week in week out.

Averaging a goal every 96 minutes this season, he is quickly becoming the go-to man whenever we need a goal. He was equally impressive against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend when he opened the scoring for us in controversial the 1-1 draw.

He would be expecting to start against his ex-club Wolverhampton Wanderers when the Reds welcome Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to Anfield on Sunday.