Storm Eowyn delays Jota’s sensational Celtic return

Jota £8.5m stunning return agreed, but Storm Eowyn will delay Celtic confirmation and hold up Kyogo’s move to Rennes…

Jota
Jota during a Celtic Champions Training Day at Celtic Park on July 18, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

As reported by Stephen McGowan and Callum Crowe in MailSport, Celtic are set to conclude a deal for former fans favourite Jota over the weekend.

After departing the Hoops in the summer of 2023 for £25m to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, the Portuguese winger spent a tumultuous year on the pitch in the middle east before making the switch to Rennes five months ago. Falling out of favour under Jorge Sampaoli in Brittany, Jota became available once again in the market this month, and Celtic have swooped in to dramatically sign the 25 year-old for the third time.

Celtic enquired about Jota last summer 

Brendan Rodgers and the Hoops hierarchy attempted to make a move for Jota last summer, but the former Benfica man was reluctant to immediately head back to Glasgow.

A €10m deal both ways, or a straight swap

Meanwhile, Celtic and Rennes have completed more business together. Kyogo Furuhashi is set to sign for the Ligue 1 club for €10m with the 30 year-old pictured landing in France last night after jetting off on a private jet from Glasgow Airport yesterday morning.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that the fee for Jota to Celtic equals the fee that Celtic will receive for Kyogo from Rennes. Effectively it’s a swap with the only difference being that Rennes have secured a sell-on clause for the 25 year old Portuguese winger whereas Celtic understandably have not insisted on this for the Kyogo sale given that the Japanese striker turned 30 last week.

Weather warning 

Celtic will hold fire on the Kyogo deal until Jota’s deal is agreed. Due to the extreme red weather warning in Glasgow for today, no flights are set to arrive – therefore Jota’s agreement with Celtic will be delayed until he can fly into Glasgow tomorrow when Storm Eowyn passes.

Jota celebrates
Jota of Celtic celebrates with teammate Kyogo Furuhashi after scoring their side’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League group G match between Ferencvarosi TC and Celtic FC at Groupama Arena on November 04, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images)

Mathias Kvistgaarden a Celtic target 

The departure of Kyogo will see Celtic reignite their interest in Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden. Scoring on 38 occasions in 109 appearances for the Danish outfit, the 22 year-old has attracted interest from a host of European clubs including Celtic and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Mathias Kvistgaarden
Broendby IF v Aarhus GF, Oddset Pokal cup football, Broendby, Denmark Brondby, Denmark. 15th, December 2024. Mathias Kvistgaarden 36 of Broendby IF seen during the Danish Oddset Pokalen cup match between Broendby IF and Aarhus GF at Brondby Stadion in Brondby. Denmark, Brondby Gonzales Photo/Rune Mathiesen

Kvistgaarden has notched up 12 goals in 18 games this season and is keen on a move this window, and with Celtic now on the search for a striker, Rodgers’ may look to the £10m forward as his new focal point.

Rodgers declared at the start of the month that Celtic would not be wasting any time in the transfer market should any of his star men exit the club in January.

Jota in action for Celtic
Celtic v Ross County – Jota in action during the Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday September 11, 2021. Photo Jeff Holmes

Any players who are signed between now and next Wednesday will not be available to make the trip to Villa Park for Celtic’s final Champions League phase outing. However, when Jota sign on the dotted line, the Portuguese man will be eligible to play in the two-legged knockout playoffs in February, as indeed will Kieran Tierney despite being involved in Arsenal’s Champions League match this week.

Conor Spence

Join the Weekly Lottery
Celtic Pools – Join the Weekly Lottery and support the Celtic Academy. Why not join Celtic Pools for £1 a week with the chance to win up to £25k

About Author

A current third year student studying History and Journalism, Media and Communications at the University of Strathclyde and now writing regularly about the Hoops for The Celtic Star.

Comments are closed.