Liverpool in advanced talks with Wolves for £35m Diogo Jota

Liverpool are close to securing the signing of Wolves forward Diogo Jota, who will cost at least £35m to make the move from Molineux to Anfield.

Talks are ongoing between the clubs, and while it is presented as a separate deal, Ki-Jana Hoever has agreed a £10m switch in the opposite direction with the 18-year-old joining Wolves. Liverpool have announced the signing of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich for an initial £20m, possibly rising to £25m, but are confident that they can get the £35m deal done for Jota as well, with negotiations in an advanced stage.

The 23-year-old made 48 appearances for Wolves last season, across all competitions, scoring 16 goals, meaning he has hit double figures for the club in each of the last three seasons.

He has not played in either of Wolves’ matches so far this season, arriving for the League Cup clash with Stoke on Thursday night, but leaving before the game began with Wolves not announcing why. Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo simply said: ‘He was not available for the game. ‘We have a short squad and all the options are good. He wasn’t available, these are decisions we have to make.

We have to prepare the squad, have to know what is the moment of the season. ‘It was a big turnaround, we have to take care of the players, improve our squad and our team and he was not available for the game. These are our decisions to make.’

This came after he did not get off the bench as Wolves beat Sheffield United in their opening Premier League game of the season. He made his international debut for Portugal last year and scored his first goal for his country in a 4-1 win over Croatia earlier this month.

The Independent report that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has long been a fan of the former Atletico Madrid and Porto man, for his work rate and ability to play across the front line. Jota will provide competition for Liverpool’s vaunted front three of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, if a deal can be finalised.