Celtic have completed a remarkable £9 million deal to bring Jota back to Parkhead.
The Portuguese winger was in Glasgow on Saturday evening to finalize his return from Ligue 1 side Rennes.
According to Mailsport, the 25-year-old is set to sign a long-term contract, reportedly lasting four-and-a-half years, marking a sensational comeback.
Jota’s arrival comes as part of a transfer agreement that sees Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi heading the other way for a fee of around £10 million.
Brendan Rodgers was determined to secure Jota, who previously spent two successful years with the Hoops under former manager Ange Postecoglou before being sold to Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad for £25 million.
Now, Rodgers appears to have landed his target, with Jota’s deal expected to be confirmed within the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Rodgers is also pursuing another former Celtic star, Kieran Tierney, in a potential loan move from Arsenal during the January transfer window.
The Scotland international is likely to sign a pre-contract agreement to return permanently to Celtic this summer, but a temporary six-month loan remains on the table for now.
However, the potential loan move for Tierney could hinge on the future of Arsenal teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Mailsport reports that Zinchenko is attracting interest from Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, with a potential £30 million move in the works.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reluctant to let Zinchenko leave during this window, as it would leave him with limited left-back options in their Premier League title chase.
If Zinchenko departs, Tierney and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly would be Arteta’s only natural left-backs, though Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are capable of filling in when needed.
Despite these challenges, Rodgers remains optimistic about securing Tierney for a short-term stint before a Bosman transfer in June.
Celtic’s current left-back, Greg Taylor, is also at the center of transfer speculation, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
Taylor has received offers from clubs such as Dinamo Zagreb and Trabzonspor but has yet to agree on an extension with Celtic. Reports of a contract renewal being close appear premature.
Rodgers is further aiming to strengthen his attacking options following the departure of Kyogo.
One of Celtic’s long-standing targets, Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden, remains on their radar, but the Danish club is demanding a significant £13 million fee, complicating the potential deal.
