Celtic set to complete £6.5 million transfer this week

Celtic enjoyed a tremendous season and exceeded everybody’s expectations. Coming into the campaign, not many would have believed that the club had any chance of even competing with the Rangers, after finishing 25 points behind them last time around and then losing key players like Scott Brown, Odsonne Edouard, Kristoffer Ajer and Ryan Christie over the summer. But not only did the Hoops win the Premiership, but they also lifted the Scottish League Cup as well.

Ange Postecoglou deserves a lot of credit for that, having turned the team completely around in such a short span of time. But so do the players, many of whom only arrived last summer and some even in January.

Jota is one such player, who was brought in on a season-long loan deal from Benfica last summer and has excelled at Parkhead. According to stats from Transfermarkt, he scored 13 goals and provided 14 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions last season.

And now, as reported by the Daily Record, Celtic expect to make the signing of Jota permanent this week. The player’s representatives are due to hold a final round of talks that should seal his £6.5 million move from Benfica. The Hoops have an option to buy in the loan deal and have all but agreed personal terms.

Celtic looking set to complete massive transfer deal this week

Jota has been exceptional for Celtic this season. When he arrived, not many were sure what to expect. He had been an absolute standout while coming through the youth ranks and had even been linked with Real Madrid at one point of time, but his career at the senior level had been disappointing until last summer.

Not only has Jota made an impact with his goals and assists, but with his overall play as well. The Portuguese star is brilliant with the ball at his feet, has impressive trickery, vision, ability to get past a man and the knack for cropping up in the right place.

If or when Celtic do complete the signing of Jota on a permanent basis, it will be a huge move for the club. It would also put them on the right path to assembling a squad that can be competitive at the Champions League level.