Timeline laid out for Jota’s Celtic return

The Jota saga should come to an end this weekend with Celtic’s non-internationalists reporting for pre-season training on Monday. 

Since signing off with a 6-0 win over Motherwell there has been a stream of stories coming out of Portugal that a permanent deal with Benfica is just days or weeks away. 

No hitches have been reported, no other clubs poised to hi-jack the deal but two weeks on from securing Cameron Carter-Vickers the Jota deal remains unsigned. 

The Glasgow Times reports: 

JOTA has bid a final farewell to Benfica ahead of an imminent permanent transfer to Celtic, according to reports. 

The Portuguese winger made a huge impact in his loan spell at Parkhead with the club keen on a full-time move. 

Celtic are thought to have a £6.5million transfer clause as part of their loan deal with Benfica. 

And Jota’s parent club are reported to be keen on finalising transfer dealings out of the club to aid their own summer transfer plans. 

It is understood that the deal is close to completion with Portuguese outlet A Bola stating that personal terms have been agreed and a deal will be signed when Jota returns to Glasgow ahead of pre-season. 

Social media pictures from Ibiza, New York and Cancun have brought a slice of humour to the last few weeks, spiced up by images of him wearing his Celtic kit in New York. 

Yokohama Marinos have confirmed the permanent transfer of Daizen Maeda with Ben Siegrist the first addition to the Celtic squad that lifted the SPFL Premiership title. 

Alexandro Bernabei appears to be on his way to Celtic with the squad that flies out to Austria for pre-season training next month giving the best indication of how the new season will shape up.