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Jurgen Klopp concedes it would be “really strange” if Luis Diaz was able to immediately show his best form for Liverpool but is “really happy and excited” about what he can bring to the Reds.
The Colombia winger joined from Porto after signing a long-term contract at Anfield in a deal reported to be worth an initial £37.5million with a further £12.5m in add-ons.
Diaz was a man in demand with Liverpool reportedly beating off competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham, while Everton had previously been linked with his signature.
At Liverpool, Diaz joins an already stacked attacking line-up that includes Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota.
Klopp accepts there is likely to be a bedding-in period for his new signing but has no doubt he can make a huge contribution at the club.
“Luis, let me say it like this, if he now came and stepped on the pitch and was immediately at his best and playing better than everyone else it would be really strange,” Klopp said ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup fourth-round tie with Cardiff City.
“He needs time to adapt, but that doesn’t mean I speak about four or five months, I haven’t even seen him yet in training so maybe we should wait a little bit.
“But I’m really happy and excited about the signing, it’s a really good sign that we work on all fronts to improve this team, that’s how it always is in football. Obviously how it works is we have to be successful now and in the future. He can help with both that’s a really good thing.
“We signed him because we like pretty much everything about him. I followed him now for a while not only since we played them twice in the Champions League.
“He has the speed, skillset, and character to have a really good career. We want him to have that career with us.
“I’m really happy we could get him in now, he can help us, we can help him. His story so far is a special one. Now he’s one of us, we can’t wait to welcome him here.”
Klopp’s options are set to be further boosted this weekend, with Naby Keita back from Africa Cup of Nations duty. Thiago Alcantara has also been back in training having been absent since December due to a thigh issue but a chest infection may curtail his chances of a return, while Divock Origi could be in contention after a knee injury.
And in further good news, talented midfielder Harvey Elliott is set to play against Cardiff this weekend after five months out as a result of a horrific fracture-dislocation of his ankle sustained against Leeds United.
“Very impressed with his rehabilitation. Harvey was the perfect client, he did pretty much everything we told him,” Klopp added.
“He is in a good place, we have to see if it’s right for him to start or come on but he’ll definitely be in the squad for the Cardiff game.
“He has now step-by-step to get back to his best but he’s close, very close.”
