Liverpool may sign a second Diogo Jota this summer in a deal worth $63 million.

A forward who has yet to score more than ten goals in a Premier League season has been linked to Liverpool. However, a comparison to Diogo Jota presents a different image.

In a realistic yet best-case scenario, Liverpool might add three great players to Arne Slot’s team this summer. A center-back is essential, and it would be great to have attackers and holding midfielders as well.

Naturally, additional signings may be required if Caoimhin Kelleher—or anyone else—can’t be persuaded to continue as Alisson Becker’s backup. However, as things stand now, those three areas are the clear gaps.

Ahead of Michael Edwards, Richard Hughes, and co. taking up their new roles and Slot’s first day as head coach, there have already been a number of connections to attacking reinforcements. From Anthony Gordon to Crysensio Summerville, it is believed that Liverpool is considering a forward trade.

However, a rather surprising new addition to the list this week was the report from the French publication L’Equipe that Bryan Mbeumo, a winger for Brentford, is being considered by the Reds. Mbeumo’s goal returns for the Bees are quite meagre at first glance, especially in light of HITC’s report that Brentford would demand $63 million (£50 million/€58 million) for his services.

The 24-year-old has scored nine goals in the Premier League in each of the previous two seasons, which is more than Luis Diaz scored in the most recent campaign, but it is barely noteworthy. That being said, the player is considerably more complex than that. The greater concern with signing Mbeumo before the upcoming season is that he will likely start ahead of Mohamed Salah in the starting lineup, primarily playing off the right side and cutting in on his left.

Though Salah’s injury and poor play in the second half of the season demonstrated, he can also play through the centre, so having an alternative for the Egyptian would not be a bad thing. Mbuemo might be a suitable stylistic match.

Although his goal total may not instantly make your heart race, Liverpool has previously signed players with comparable production in the hopes that they would succeed. Similar to Mbuemo, Diogo Jota was playing well for the Wolves, but with stronger players and support around him, he may reach new heights.

Following Wolves’ promotion to the top division, Jota scored nine goals in 33 appearances in the first season. He then scored seven goals in 34 league games the next year. This led to his transfer to Liverpool, where he has scored 56 goals in 145 games, but it is not the whole tale.

Jota has not always been readily available, but when he has been healthy, he has been very productive. The 27-year-old has missed significant time in each of his seasons at Anfield. Even though he was healthy throughout, that helped to explain why, during an exceptionally dry spell, he failed to find the back of the net for a full year.

In comparison, Mbuemo has only experienced one injury. That occurred in the season recently, between December and March, when he sustained an ankle knock that required him to miss 15 games. But if he stays healthy, the Cameroonian might see a similar upsurge as Jota, a player who is adored at Liverpool and who, in the event that his fitness could be more heavily relied upon, would be a surefire starter.