Football journalist Alison McConnell has compared Celtic loanee Jota to former player Patrick Roberts amidst talk of a permanent transfer.
Over the summer, the Bhoys brought in the Portuguese winger on a one-year loan deal. The move has been a great success to this point, which has prompted talk of an option-to-buy clause being triggered in order to keep him in Scotland for the long term.
However, with a deal yet to be sorted, McConnell has claimed Jota is being ‘coy’ about his future and used the example of Roberts as a warning to Celtic fans.
Former Manchester City winger Roberts spent two loan spells impressing the Parkhead faithful, but after indicating he wasn’t ready to commit his future to the club, he ended up trying his luck with a number of other teams (also on loan).
While speaking on the PLZ Soccer Show, the journalist made her point, saying: “I think so much comes down to the boy himself. I think you’ve seen it before, with the likes of Patrick Roberts who comes in and makes an impact.
“I think he has been very coy when he’s been asked about it. He’s been asked two or three times at press conferences. He’s been very careful not to make any big commitments to the club or to offer any badge-kissing exploits.
“I think he may want to wait, himself, to the end of the season and see what his options are. I think from Celtic’s point of view, financially, you know what the deal entails.
“On current form, I think it makes absolute sense to try and keep him, but it’s not a one-way offer. I think he might want to see what Benfica have made of it and whether any other clubs are interested in him.”
TIF Thoughts on Jota and Celtic…
It’s no surprise to see Jota linked with a permanent transfer to the Scottish side. After all, he has already scored eight goals and assisted six in his first 17 appearances for the club across all competitions.
Will Jota stay at Celtic permanently?
Yes
No
With that kind of form, it’s easy to see why Celtic want to keep him. However, if he continues to play so well, he may feel he can impress elsewhere or have another shot at making it in Portgual with parent club Benfica.
For now, though, manager Ange Postecoglou will likely be hoping the 22-year-old can stay focused on helping his side continue in their push for success in the Scottish Premier League.
In other news: ‘Reminds me of Christie’, ‘He’s a baller’ – Lots of Celtic fans buzzing over transfer news