Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has posted a Sunday morning update on the imminent transfer of Celtic’s Portuguese winger Jota to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad. He confirms that the the Celtic player has spoken to the Al Ittihad coach Nuno and states that the transfer is now ‘considered imminent’ and set to be go through next week week. His update on the transfer fee is that it will be around €30m with those discussions ongoing.

Understand Al Ittihad coach Nuno has already spoken to Jota about his transfer considered imminent and set to be completed next week. 🟡⚫️🇸🇦 #transfers

Fee gonna be around €30m, discussions ongoing. pic.twitter.com/0shQFzeCSI

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 2, 2023

Sky Sports provided this update late last night…

🚨 Al-Ittihad are in advanced talks over a deal to sign Celtic’s Jota in a move worth up to £25m ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wDIKgMrcge

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) July 1, 2023

The final matters that seem still to be settled relate to the payment terms of the transfer fee with the Saudis looking to pay in instalments whereas Celtic, quite understandably, are insisting that it is paid in full on completion of the deal.

A few wee points worth adding to this, as clearly Jota has had Celtic’s permission to speak to Al-Ittihad and that seems to have been going off throughout June. Remember that rather awkward media conference at Hampden after the Scottish Cup Final win where Ange Postecoglou would not comment about his own future but just wanted us all to enjoy the celebrations after winning the Treble? Ange said that he could guarantee that there were players in that dressing room who would not be here next season.

Earlier Postecoglou avoided the players as much as possible during the celebrations and before that he substituted Jota just after he scored the second goal of the game, and the two embraced on the touchline as the goalscorer left the park.

Jota also was not present in one of the informal team photos on the pitch at Hampden – looking back both manager and player were well aware that that that was their last day at Celtic. That’s not a moan incidentally, just an observation and as Just An Ordinary Bhoy posted yesterday, you can’t blame Jota for taking this opportunity with the money on offer. The same goes for Ange Postecolgou realising his own ambition to manage in the Premier League, where the money he earns will be significantly higher than at Celtic.

Both Ange and Jota have been very good for Celtic for the past two seasons and coming to Celtic certainly has been very good for them. Celtic’s record transfer fee paid is the £9m paid to Paris Saint Germaine for Odsonne Edouard in 2018, in the same window we sold Kieran Tierney for £25m.

Expect that record to be broken shortly and by quite a margin.

Make of this what you will…

I’ve heard it’s this guy. Not sure how true. pic.twitter.com/ZrPkf8ne6T

— G (@G44724885) July 2, 2023

HUGE SAVINGS IN THE CELTIC STAR’S SUMMER SALE!

The Celtic Star’s Father’s Day Promotion has been so successful, with hundreds of books at great prices being posted to Celtic fans all over the world, that we’ve decided to continue with the sale until the end of July. We’ve reduced all six books currently available from their usual retail price of £20 and prices are as low as £6 (see below).

All books are high quality hardback, with some signed by the author. And it’s also worth noting that you only pay postage on one book, so it’s free for the second, third and so on. ORDER HERE or click on The Celtic Star image above…this is how it feels to be Celtic!