Aston Villa are on the verge of signing Jota from bitter rivals Birmingham City, according to Express & Star reporter Matt Maher.
The reliable journalist claimed via his personal Twitter account on Friday that Villa’s swoop for the 27-year-old involves midfielder Gary Gardner sealing a permanent move to St Andrew’s after spending the season there on loan with his brother Craig.
#avfc are close to signing Jota from Second City rivals #bcfc. Deal involves Gary Gardner going the other way.
— matt maher (@mjmarr_star) May 31, 2019
Press Association journalist Nick Mashiter has added that both players are scheduled to undergo medicals today (Friday).
Jota heading to Aston Villa from Birmingham while Gary Gardner off to St Andrew's permanently. Swap deal. Medicals today. #bcfc #avfc
— Nick Mashiter (@nickmashiter) May 31, 2019
Jota made 41 appearances in all competitions for Blues this season, scoring three goals and supplying nine assists in the process.
Good move for Aston Villa?
Dean Smith is playing a dangerous game here by signing a player from Second City rivals Birmingham, especially one that is clearly not good enough for the Premier League.
Jota has barely stood out in the Championship when playing for Garry Monk’s side this term, playing in the shadow of Che Adams and Lukas Jutkiewicz.
He has supplied a few assists but that’s about it and it’s hard to see him making the step up to the top-flight unless he is no more than a back-up player for Smith, who did manage to get the best out of him during his time at Brentford to be fair.
However playing well for Brentford and Blues in the second-tier will be completely different to featuring against the best that England has to offer next term.
This is Futbol rating 3/10
Likely to happen?
If Jota is scheduled to have his medical on Friday then it sure looks as though the Spanish attacker is going to be playing in claret and blue in the Premier League next season.
It is no doubt an unexpected transfer and one that has come out of the blue, but it now seems as though everything is all but done in this deal.
This is Futbol rating 10/10