Celtic are on the verge of securing a deal to sign Filipe Jota on loan from Portuguese giants Benfica with an option to make it permanent next summer, according to O’Jogo (via EverythingCeltic)
The report claims that the forward is poised to arrive in Scotland on loan with an option to sign him permanently next year for a fee in the region of £6.4m.
Jota has played 34 times for Benfica at senior level, scoring twice and assisting three goals. He spent last season on loan to Real Vallodolid in Spain, scoring twice and failing to provide an assist in 18 appearances.
The youngster will now get the opportunity to show what he is capable of in Scotland under Ange Postecoglou, but what have the fans made of this news? Here is an encouraging reaction from a number of Hoops supporters following this update…
How have Celtic fans reacted?
“If Filipe Jota to Celtic does come off with the option to make it permanent then I’m happy with that. He’s not played much & if the option to make it permanent wasn’t there I wouldn’t be so enthusiastic but it means he can settle down & find a home to play his best football.”
“We really need this. Attacking options on the bench were poor. And with Forrest and MJ injury prone imperative we get Jota & greek striker signed.”
“He is an LW is he? Wasn’t sure if he was LW or RW. Badly need quality in that area.”
“Think midfield is the last place we need to add depth tbh. For me it’s a big, bad CB or failing that more depth on the wings. Jota looks like he’s coming in so that’s great news on that front.”
“So we are signing João Filipe “Jota”, a tricky Portuguese skill merchant at LW, and Giorgos Giakoumakis, a goalscoring tap-in merchant at CF. We are signing 2007 Cristiano Ronaldo and 2018 Cristiano Ronaldo. My idol club Celtic may well be finished.”
“Very skilful and can get past players very easily just what we need because after today that doesn’t look like something we can do against good sides.”
“Edouard out, him in and Giakoumakis in, and that’s a great window”
After a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Rangers on Sunday, it is no surprise to see Hoops fans engaging well with this piece of transfer news. With little to latch onto after the loss to their rivals, they now have a new signing to look forward to – and a promising one at that.
The 22-year-old has time on his side at his young age and could be a player Postecoglou is able to mould into his own vision of what he wants from a wide man. Hopefully, the move will go through as scheduled and he can thrive in the Scottish Premiership.