Celtic have until Thursday (June 30) to take up their option to sign Jota according to one Portuguese Twitter account.
Ange Postecoglou’s non-international players return for pre-season training at Lennoxtown with the 23-year-old winger unlikely to be involved.
Throughout the close season there has been reassuring claims that a permanent move will be completed in a couple of days but six weeks on from being presented with the SPFL Premiership trophy some Celtic fans are becoming concerned.
Cameron Carter-Vickers was in a similar situation but on June 10 his permanent transfer was announced.
ÚLTIMAS: Celtic tem até 5ª feira para exercer a cláusula de opção de 7,5M€ por 70%. Ainda não o fez! Clubes ingleses estão atentos à situação de Jota, se Celtic falhar a contratação #Benfica #Transfers pic.twitter.com/u03pEOOpIX
— Teco SLB (@TecoSLB) June 26, 2022
TRANSLATION:
LATEST: Celtic has until Thursday to exercise the 7.5M € option clause for 70%. Haven’t done it yet! English clubs are aware of Jota’s situation if Celtic fails to #Benfica #Transfers
Teco SLB (Sporting Lisboa Benfica) is described as an influencer, following just 67 accounts it has gained more than 2,200 followers.
Ange Postecoglou is likely to do some media work this week with the future of Jota looking like the biggest issue with the signing of Alexandro Bernabei expected to be rubber stamped with the Argentinian defender arriving in Scotland on Friday.
If the deal was done for the fee when he first arrived then it is obviously the player that is holding out for some reason, more cash or a better offer from somewhere else, running the clock down to force the issue.
It may turn out Jota is just another badge kissing mercenery….Ange doesn’t want players like that at the club.