Al-Ittihad are reportedly told all suitors for Jota they must pay his full salary if they want to snap up the winger on loan this summer.
The 24-year-old looks set to face another season on the fringes of the Saudi Pro League squad amid a fresh recruitment drive from Ittihad that has seen Houssem Aouar join from Roma and winger Moussa Diaby arrive from Aston Villa in recent days. Following his £25million departure from Celtic, Jota was quickly cut from the list of foreign players in the Ittihad league squad – and spent six months of the campaign relegated to appearances in friendly matches and Asian Champions League cameos.
History looks to be repeating itself with new boss Laurent Blanc reportedly assessing the player during pre-season – but is unlikely to include the wide man in his first-team squad for the new campaign. Hi Koura report that Besiktas are leading the race for a loan deal, while the Scottish Premiership champions were floated as a potential destination earlier this summer.
Clubs in the Middle East might potentially decide to move; nevertheless, despite rumors that Jota “would love” to return to Parkhead, a significant obstacle has surfaced. Ittihad allegedly stated emphatically that his next team needs to take up his £200,000-a-week salary.
Jota still has two years left on his contract, which is still in effect. It’s said that Ittihad is “unlikely” to rip up his contract in order to go back to Europe.
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