Jota

[THFCSPURS19]

Tottenham Hotspur bid to sign Jota on loan from Saudi Pro League

Ange Postecoglou wants reunion with forward he managed at Celtic after injuries to Manor Solomon and Ivan Perisic

www.thetimes.co.uk

Tottenham Hotspur bid to sign Jota on loan from Saudi Pro League​

Ange Postecoglou wants reunion with forward he managed at Celtic after injuries to Manor Solomon and Ivan Perisic

Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their interest in Jota, which would reunite the left winger with his former manager at Celtic, Ange Postecoglou.

While the north London club’s priority is to bring in a centre back when the January transfer window opens, they have also been looking for short-term cover on the wing after lengthy injuries to Manor Solomon and Ivan Perisic.

Jota, 24, is available on loan as he has been ineligible to play for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League because of a rule limiting clubs to having eight foreign players. The most recent of his five substitute appearances in the domestic league was in September, although he has been able to play twice in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League in the past two months.

Al-Ittihad paid up to £25 million to sign him from Celtic in July before they brought in Fabinho from Liverpool and Luiz Felipe from Real Betis to join a
squad that already included Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté. The club are fourth in the league and top of their AFC Champions League group.

Jota became a key fixture in the Celtic team during two seasons working under Postecoglou, scoring 28 and assisting 26 goals across all competitions. He initially joined the Scottish club on loan before they triggered his £6.5 million buyout clause from Benfica at the start of last season.

His unpredictability and goal contributions helped to make him a favourite with the Celtic supporters. He has played for Portugal Under-21 but has not yet been capped at senior level, having been cut from the provisional 36-man squad for the World Cup finals last year.

Perisic is out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury and Solomon will be absent until the turn of the year after having knee surgery.

Tottenham, who have lost three games in a row and fallen from top to fifth in the Premier League table after being hit hard by injuries and suspensions, will also attempt to shift fringe players in January, including the midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. They have retained an interest in signing Lloyd Kelly after Bournemouth rejected an offer for the 25-year-old centre back in the summer. However, Bournemouth have shown that they are willing to let players leave as free agents if necessary, and his deal expires this summer.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

There’s been noise around him for quite a while now from the press and ITK’s that, assuming they are happy to loan him, it will probably very likely happen.

Personally I’m not entirely convinced by him and I also feel there is quite a bit of overlap with Solomon but on the flip side I can see why a loan with option (one would hope) is a sensible move all things considered.

Straight off the bat he will know Ange’s tactics so won’t need time to adjust. To the league yes but not to the tactics.

Then obviously from a financial position it will allow us to spend more on a defender and possibly a CF (if Richy goes.). We have already heard that those are our two priorities in the upcoming windows and getting a WF on a loan would allow us to get both in Jan.

Thirdly, and possibly most importantly, none of our other targets might actually be available. I’ve already read that Nusa will likely not leave this window, both the player and the club want him to finish the season there, and that goes for many of our other potential targets. Neto maybe might go but we aren’t signing him.

He wouldn’t be my first choice for a WF addition but given that our priorities are probably elsewhere on the pitch joined with the financials, other targets being unavailable and Ange’s history with him I get why this could/will happen. Whilst I wouldn’t be overly excited by it I can get behind it if we nail the rest of our Jan business.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

 

[Tucker]

With that mullet and tache he’s really going for the Ange in the 80s look.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I think it makes a lot of sense while we use most of our January funds to strengthen at CB.

Loan with option would allow us to reassess in the summer. Playing for Ange, he may prove to be a top quality player for us in which case we could sign him in the summer. If not then we could look at alternatives like Nusa, Williams etc.

 

[JonnySpurs]

I just dont see any downside to it, particularly on loan. Could absolutely bang and we make it permanent, and if not, off he goes back to Saudi

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Im very 50/50 on it. I'm unconvinced by him and think there are other WF I'd much rather us go for but if Ange trusts him to perform in the PL and it allows us to get a higher quality CB then sure. I won't be too fussed if he ends up at Newcastle as Trix suggested might end up happening.

 

[Japhet]

Isn't he on something daft like 200k per week?

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

Im very 50/50 on it. I'm unconvinced by him and think there are other WF I'd much rather us go for but if Ange trusts him to perform in the PL and it allows us to get a higher quality CB then sure. I won't be too fussed if he ends up at Newcastle as Trix suggested might end up happening.

Newcastle already have Gordon (who’s a nailed on starter now) and Barnes (due back in the next 2/3 weeks) for the LW spot so I’d be surprised if they go for him. Would make more sense for them to go for a RW.

 

[King of the Lane]

He is quick, very good at 1vs1 dribbling, can score and assist and knows Ange's system inside out. I dont see much downside to it and I reckon he would be a hit for us.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Newcastle already have Gordon (who’s a nailed on starter now) and Barnes (due back in the next 2/3 weeks) for the LW spot so I’d be surprised if they go for him. Would make more sense for them to go for a RW.

Tbh I’m more going off what Trix said the other day. I didn’t know they had an interest before then for the reasons you state.

 

[Gbspurs]

Im very 50/50 on it. I'm unconvinced by him and think there are other WF I'd much rather us go for but if Ange trusts him to perform in the PL and it allows us to get a higher quality CB then sure. I won't be too fussed if he ends up at Newcastle as Trix suggested might end up happening.

I'm not usually supportive of a loan but we need reinforcements fast. I'd hope the club have a few lined up ready to go straight in on Jan 1st.

 

[guy]

I'm not usually supportive of a loan but we need reinforcements fast. I'd hope the club have a few lined up ready to go straight in on Jan 1st.

Optimistic rating

 

[rambu]

Is it just me that every time I see him I see a young Jose Mourinho, the porn version?
But it doesn't work if you compare him with actual youth Jose photos...

 

[mill]

Is it just me that every time I see him I see a young Jose Mourinho, the porn version?
But it doesn't work if you compare him with actual youth Jose photos...

You have too much time on your hands

 

[Spriggan]

Is it just me that every time I see him I see a young Jose Mourinho, the porn version?
But it doesn't work if you compare him with actual youth Jose photos...

You have too much time on your hands

He has too much something on his hands, and I don't think it's time

 

[dontcallme]

A loan would make a lot of sense for us, the player and his current club.

 

[Japhet]

A loan would make a lot of sense for us, the player and his current club.

Maybe if they want to pick up a big chunk of his wages.

 

[spursfan77]

A loan would make a lot of sense for us, the player and his current club.

Bung them Ndombele instead of a fee…