• Diogo Jota of Wolves is on his way to Liverpool. Getty
    Diogo Jota of Wolves is on his way to Liverpool. Getty
  • Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with Diogo Jota. Getty
    Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur battles for possession with Diogo Jota. Getty
  • Diogo Jota shoots during the Premier League match against Burnley in July. Getty
    Diogo Jota shoots during the Premier League match against Burnley in July. Getty
  • Diogo Jota is challenged by Andreas Pereira of Manchester United in February. Getty
    Diogo Jota is challenged by Andreas Pereira of Manchester United in February. Getty
  • Diogo Jota controls the ball in front of Kyle Walker of Manchester City. Getty
    Diogo Jota controls the ball in front of Kyle Walker of Manchester City. Getty
  • Portugal's forward Diogo Jota (L) challenges Croatia's midfielder Nikola Vlasic during the UEFA Nations League match earlier in September. AFP
    Portugal's forward Diogo Jota (L) challenges Croatia's midfielder Nikola Vlasic during the UEFA Nations League match earlier in September. AFP
  • Phil Jagielka of Everton fouls Diogo Jota in 2018. Getty
    Phil Jagielka of Everton fouls Diogo Jota in 2018. Getty
  • Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta (L) is fouled by Diogo Jota in July. AFP
    Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta (L) is fouled by Diogo Jota in July. AFP
  • Diogo Jota takes a shot during the Premier League match against Sheffield United at Molineux in December. Getty
    Diogo Jota takes a shot during the Premier League match against Sheffield United at Molineux in December. Getty
  • Jota shoots against Bournemouth in 2018. Getty
    Jota shoots against Bournemouth in 2018. Getty
  • Diogo Jota is challenged by Marvelous Nakamba and Ezri Konsa Ngoyo. Getty
    Diogo Jota is challenged by Marvelous Nakamba and Ezri Konsa Ngoyo. Getty
  • Portugal defender Joao Cancelo (L) celebrates with Diogo Jota. AFP
    Portugal defender Joao Cancelo (L) celebrates with Diogo Jota. AFP

£70m spent in 24 hours – Liverpool agree deal for Diogo Jota as well as signing Thiago


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Liverpool pulled off a second transfer coup in the space of two days after agreeing a deal to sign Diogo Jota from Wolves.

Just hours after Thiago Alcantara's move from Bayern Munich was confirmed, the Reds tied up a £41million (Dh195m) transfer – potentially rising to £45m – for the 23-year-old who has spent the last three years at Molineux.

It took Liverpool's spending in just over 24 hours to £70m – although £9m will be recouped with the sale of teenage defender Ki-Jana Hoever to Wolves with the prospect of the whole deal being worth £13.5m plus a 15 per cent sell-on clause.

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo says Jota is "going to the right place" after confirming the player will join the Premier League champions.

"Diogo is amazing and everybody knows the relationship we built. What Diogo did for us is absolutely fantastic," said Nuno.

"I think Diogo is going to the right place and we wish him all the best, knowing that it never be forgotten, especially by our fans, all the memorable moments that Diogo provided."

Nuno hopes to swiftly recruit a direct replacement for Jota having already identified an unnamed target.

"We still have to adjust the squad. It's clear that we need to balance our squad better," he said.

"We already identified the targets, we know the player we want to bring and now we hope that our plan continues as it previously did.

"Jeff [Shi, Wolves' executive chairman] knows who is our target and where we need to work on our squad."

Speaking about 18-year-old Dutchman Hoever, Nuno said: "Ki will join us. He's a young player, a player that I think really has potential, has talent. And it's up to us to take the best out of him.

"First of all he has to integrate in to the squad, integrate into the dynamics we want inside of the team but this is what's happening – Diogo will join Liverpool and Ki will join us."

It is understood Wolves have agreed to flexible payment terms which will see Liverpool pay as little as 10 per cent of the initial £41m fee over the next 12 months.

Liverpool turned their attention to the Portuguese after Watford quoted them in excess of £40m for Ismaila Sarr.

Jota, who can play across the forward line, will provide important back-up for Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.