Diogo Jota has replaced Roberto Firmino in Liverpool’s first-choice front three and is now worth £70m.
That is the opinion of former Premier League stars Darren Bent and Jack Wilshere.
Jota arrived at Anfield from Wolves for £41m in the summer of 2020 and was an instant hit, netting nine goals in his first 17 games for the Reds.
However, his progress was hampered by a knee injury in December of last year and he didn’t return to full fitness until the following March.
READ MORE: Sadio Mane AFCON call-up confirmed as Liverpool fans wait for departure decision
JURGEN KLOPP: Reds boss will fear worst for crunch Chelsea clash as Liverpool myth exposed
READ MORE: Naby Keita shows 'humbled' James Maddison how Liverpool situation has changed
But Jota has been in impressive form again this season, hitting 12 goals in 22 appearances, and he was on the scoresheet yet again during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win over Leicester City and the 2-2 Premier League draw at Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday.
And Bent believes the Portugal star has now established himself alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah in Jurgen Klopp's preferred attack.
“When they first signed him, he was on absolute fire, wasn’t he?" the ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker told talkSPORT .
“Then he had that injury and it kind of railroaded him a little bit.
Take part in our Liverpool FC 'Keep or Sell' survey:
“But he’s come back this season fantastic and, at one stage, it was almost like blasphemy that anyone could upset that front three, Firmino, Salah, and Mane.
“He’s been up for the challenge, he’s gone in there and thought, ‘I believe in my own ability, I can oust one of them’.
“Now you look at that front three and you think who's probably the best? It’s probably Jota, Mane, and Salah.”
Former Arsenal midfielder Wilshere agrees with Bent and believes Jota gives the Reds’ attack another dimension.
He said “I think he had something different in terms of when they play with Firmino up top.
“Firmino would drop deep but he seems to be a little different to that. He’s a goalscorer.
“(He’s worth) 70 odd (million) I’d say – he’s (at) a great age (25-years-old).”
