Klopp told he made glaring blunder signing Jota ahead of ‘superb’ Prem star

Adama Traore, Wilfried Zaha

Liverpool should have attempted to sign “superb” Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha in the recent transfer window, according to one pundit.

The Reds shuffled their attacking ranks, sanctioning both new arrivals and departures. Diogo Jota was the marquee arrival up top, the Portuguese costing £41million from Wolves.

Indeed, Jota has made a fantastic start to life at Anfield, scoring two goals on home turf. It was the 23-year-old’s header which won Jurgen Klopp’s side Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Sheffield United.

However, Tony Cascarino feels Klopp should have tried to sign Zaha, given his impressive performances against the Reds.

“I was surprised Liverpool didn’t go in for him but then they went for Jota and got him for £40million and a younger player who has already stepped in,” the pundit told talkSPORT.

“I thought Wilf could have played for Liverpool in the way they play, I thought he would have been superb in their setup. He gave Trent Alexander-Arnold a real hard game at Palace one afternoon.

Klopp was on and on at Trent to try and defend. There was a penalty and he caused lots of problems for Liverpool.

Wilfried Zaha Crystal Palace TEAMtalk

“He’s good enough. I just feel he’s been priced out of the market slightly. Teams have looked at him and sometimes he’s on the fringes of a game when he shouldn’t be.

“I’ve never questioned Wilf’s ability. He’s a tremendous footballer.”

Cascarino was praising the 27-year-old after he led Palace to their own 2-1 win over Fulham on Saturday.

The Ivorian set up Jairo Riedewald’s goal in the first half before notching a goal of his own. Indeed that strike was his fourth of the Premier League campaign.

‘Zaha could play Champions League football’

Wilfried Zaha Crystal Palace

“He’s one of those players who is good enough to play for a Champions League team. Easily,” Cascarino added. “But he’s got to be in the right frame of mind.

“When he plays like he did yesterday (Saturday) and he causes havoc and he runs at teams and he’s nearly unplayable at times.

“I do think there’s an element that teams do actually feel… Wilf was very expensive and you are thinking he’s 28 years old and you are going to spend £40m, £50m, £60m for Wilf and then he’s 28, 29.

“He relies on pace. Wilf has got a great turn of foot and he can get past defenders.”

Zaha was a firm target for Arsenal in the summer of 2018, before the Gunners brought in Nicolas Pepe.

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