Medical expert: Diogo Jota sidelined ‘well into 2023’ as Liverpool hit by triple forward injury blow
The marquee signing of Cody Gakpo is shrewd business by Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp’s squad were struck by a triple injury blow in the forward department.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The Reds secured the signature of 23-year-old PSV Eindhoven striker Gakpo last week, in a deal costing £37million rising to a potential £44m.
Gakpo will be officially registered as a Liverpool player on 1 January, when he will join up with an injury-hit forward department at Melwood.
Luis Diaz, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota are all currently spending time in the treatment room after picking up injuries, with Diaz and Firmino expected to be sidelined for months.
Dinnery has hailed Liverpool for their “shrewd” business when it came to signing Gakpo, believing that squad depth will be crucial to Klopp’s squad for the second half of the season.
“I think that the Gakpo signing is probably an indication, of not just Diaz – but let’s not forget we’ve had Diogo Jota out now for quite a significant period with this calf injury too,” the injury expert told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“Prior to that, he picked up that hamstring problem earlier in the summer playing for Portugal. He’s played very little football over the last six-plus months and that will extend beyond into 2023.
“So, when Liverpool are fighting on a number of fronts and we’ve seen that squad depth and strength is what you’re gonna need, that’s what the big clubs do – you look at the depth Manchester City has got, and you know that two or three really strong players are needed in every position.
“Liverpool do look a little bit lightweight up front, just in terms of the three players that are carrying those injuries.
“Because let’s not forget Roberto Firmino is currently out too. At the moment, that is just a short-term setback, but he has had his own muscular problems in the past as well.
“So I just think the Gakpo deal is a good move to bring in a quality player to bolster the squad.
“There are absolutely no guarantees in football and I think it’s just shrewd and savvy of Jurgen Klopp to bring these players in when the opportunity arises.“
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