West Ham could turn to former Celtic man Jota as they struggle with injuries on the wings.
Jota made the high-profile move to Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad last summer but is struggling for game time, leading to current speculation about his next career move.
Jota joined Al-Ittihad in June for a fee of £25 million, signing a three-year deal.
By September, he found himself excluded from the club’s Pro League squad due to league rules limiting the number of foreign players. This limitation meant Jota could only participate in AFC (Asian Champions League) matches or bounce games, significantly reducing his playing time.
To date, he has made 11 appearances and scored two goals for the Jeddah-based club. However, the lack of regular playing time has led to speculation that Jota is seeking a move to reinvigorate his career.
Sky Sports reports that West Ham United might offer Jota an escape route from Al-Ittihad. With the Hammers’ long-term transfer targets reportedly unavailable in this transfer window, manager David Moyes is exploring the loan market as an alternative.
Jota’s situation presents a potential opportunity for West Ham to strengthen their squad mid-season.
However, a significant hurdle in any potential deal is Jota’s current wage structure. The winger is reportedly earning a staggering £200,000 per week, a salary that could pose challenges in negotiations for a loan move to West Ham. The financial aspects of such a transfer would need careful consideration, especially given the economic constraints many clubs face.
Celtic fans were optimistic about a potential return, but as the days go by, the chances get lower and lower, not that they were very high to begin with.
Jota would not want anywhere his current £200 k wages He wants to play football and would easily fit into any EPL team
Why don’t we just ask Jota if he will return on similar wages as before his move, I’m sure we can afford a bit more for him.
Ask the Saudis to work out a deal with the £25 mil minus the Benfica fee.
If Jota isn’t interested then make it public and we know where we finally stand, the stories can stop and new targets sought.
It costs nothing to ask.