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Diogo Jota's Liverpool transfer comments speak volumes as pressure put on FSG
Liverpool are set for a summer overhaul after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season 22 points behind Manchester City
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Liverpool star Diogo Jota has made transfer comments that have put further pressure on club owners FSG to make summer signings. The Portuguese forward is the latest player to urge owners Fenway Sports Group to spend big this summer following comments made by team-mates Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
Since signing from Wolves in 2020, Jota has been part of the Liverpool side who finished third and second in the Premier League before last season’s disappointing fifth place. In an interview with FourFourTwo, Jota talked about need to ‘refresh the squad’ to improve on last season.
He said: “In the last few years, we have always been there [near the top] – three seasons with over 90 points, which is incredible. Not to win the league with so many points is even more incredible. So, I think our target needs to be that: to do better than the season we’ve just had, for sure, and be fighting for titles.
“You always need to refresh the squad with new players. That’s what we’ve done, and if we stick together for a long time, things will get better. In the season we’ve just had, we weren’t there – it’s the truth – but hopefully that was hitting the bottom and we can bounce back and try to fight for titles again.
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Liverpool’s newly-appointed vice-captain Van Dijk put pressure on a big summer of transfer activity by stating that his side paid the price for a lack of available squad depth last season. The Reds have moved quickly to sign Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister for an initial £35million which will rise to a total of £55m.
Speaking while on international duty Van Dijk welcomed the signing and hopes there are more ‘quality additions to come’. He said: “I think he will definitely be a big addition and something that we need, you know, in order to be back where we want to be.
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“So it's a good start to the transfer window and hopefully, we get a couple of more quality additions. But he is definitely one of the players that can make a difference for us in the next couple of years.”
Liverpool have lost Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita this summer and defender Konate also called for more reinforcements this summer. He added: "We have to replace them. If we don't replace them, what do we do? Are we understaffed and lacking in quality? We cannot play with young people at this level."