Ange Postecoglou reveals the focus of Jota deal

Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Jota’s Celtic future will be decided by the player himself. 

Celtic and Benfica appear to have struck a deal when a loan move was agreed in August but anything beyond next Saturday will be the call of the winger. 

The 23-year-old appears to have found the perfect platform to kick his career on after being a stand-out in Portugal’s successful youth sides, the transition seemed to stall at Benfica while last season was mainly spent on the bench at Real Valladolid. 

That campaign ended in relegation, over the next eight days Jota could pick up an SPFL winners medal with the on-loan winger delivering a telling contribution of nine goals so far as Celtic defied the pre-season predictions of doom. 

Whether there is a more appealing offer elsewhere or the player wants to put down some roots in Glasgow remains unknown regardless of the deal between Celtic and Benfica. 

The Scotsman reports Postecoglou saying: 

We are in talks with Jota’s representatives, and from our perspective we would obviously like him to stay. He’s had a great year for us. But with all these things you need agreement from all sides, hopefully we are working towards that. I’m not aware of the chat, mate, but if you’re telling me there are suggestions of some significant progress then they are premature. It is similar with Cam. We are talking to him.  

He is a player we would like to keep at the football club, I know he is really happy, but with all these things you need all parties to agree. Until you get to that space there is no real certainty about closing the deal. 

Jota’s Benfica contract runs until May 2024.