MX23RW : Sunday, April 28 20:59:12| >> :60:3515:3515:

Al-Ittihad's Jota 'keen on January move to Tottenham Hotspur'

Jota 'keen on January move to Tottenham Hotspur'
© Reuters
Al-Ittihad attacker Jota is reportedly keen on a reunion with Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window amid Spurs' search for a new winger.

Al-Ittihad attacker Jota is reportedly keen on a reunion with Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur in January.

The Portuguese frontman was a vital component of the Australian's treble-winning Bhoys team last season, having originally joined on loan from Benfica before making his stay permanent in 2022.

Jota hit double figures in both goals and assists in the 2022-23 Scottish Premiership campaign, amassing 11 goals and 10 assists in 29 matches while also netting twice in the Champions League.

The 24-year-old's exploits attracted the attention of Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad, who paid £25m to prise him away from Celtic during the lavish summer of Middle East spending.

However, with Fabinho, Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Luiz Felipe also touching down at Al-Ittihad over the summer, Jota was brutally axed from their Saudi Pro League squad under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Celtic's Jota celebrates scoring their first goal with Matt O'Riley on April 2, 2023© Reuters

The attacker scored once in his first five Saudi Pro League appearances for Al-Ittihad, who are now managed by Marcelo Gallardo, but he has now gone three months without playing a top-flight fixture.

Since the start of September, Jota has been restricted to three starts in the AFC Champions League, and his predicament has naturally led to rumours surrounding an early exit from Al-Ittihad, who have him under contract until 2026.

According to The Sun, Jota is pining for a move away from the Gulf state and hopes to work under Postecoglou again at Tottenham, who are being tipped to add to their offensive ranks in January.

Both Spurs and Wolverhampton Wanderers are said to have registered their interest in a winter move, but the Lilywhites are only prepared to take him on loan given his lack of domestic minutes this season.

Furthermore, the report adds that Postecoglou is still undecided on a swoop for his former Celtic attacker, as he harbours doubts about his ability to adapt to the demands of Premier League football.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou pictured on November 6, 2023© Reuters

Nevertheless, Tottenham are expected to strengthen their wide options midway through the season, having seen all of Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon and Ryan Sessegnon undergo surgery this year.

Richarlison is also working his way back from a groin operation, while Son Heung-min has often been deployed in a central role, leaving Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Bryan Gil as Postecoglou's only senior wingers.

Kulusevski is the oldest of the three at just 23, but Spurs are still said to be eyeing younger options, namely PSV Eindhoven's Johan Bakayoko and Juventus' Samuel Iling-Junior.

A new centre-back is also on the agenda in the wake of Micky van de Ven's serious thigh problem, while Rodrigo Bentancur will miss a couple of months with an ankle injury, which could trigger the pursuit of another midfielder in January.

Tottenham travel to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon occupying fifth place in the Premier League table on the back of three consecutive defeats to Chelsea, Wolves and Aston Villa, and Spurs could now lose four top-flight games on the bounce for the first time since 2004.

ID:530413:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6797:

Click here for more stories about Jota

Click here for more stories about Tottenham Hotspur

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
PSV Eindhoven's Johan Bakayoko pictured during the warm up on August 22, 2023
Read Next:
Tottenham eyeing January move for Johan Bakayoko?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Result
Baez
Fritz
2 3
6 6
Result
Griekspoor
Rune
6 4 6
4 6 3
Result
Humbert
Struff
5 4
7 6
Result
Hurkacz
Altmaier
6 77
4 62
10am
Paul
Cerundolo
Result
Rublev
Davidovich Fokina
712 6
610 4
Result
Seyboth Wild
Alcaraz
3 3
6 6
10am
Shapovalov
Zverev
Result
Sherif
Rybakina
1 4
6 6
Result
Krueger
Bejlek
3 1
6 6
Result
Putintseva
Dolehide
6 6
2 2
Result
Pavlyuchenkova
Kasatkina
65 5
77 7
Result
Vondrousova
Andreeva
5 1
7 6
Result
Garcia
Paolini
3 2
6 6
Result
Collins
Cristian
3 6 6
6 4 1
7.10pm
Montgomery
Sabalenka
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!