Jota on Celtic permanent transfer brink as Benfica talks ramp up amid Parkhead signing spree
dailyrecord.co.ukCeltic are closing in on a permanent deal for Jota as they also line up a move for Aussie ace Riley McGree. Parkhead manager Ange Postecoglou has made a strong start to this month’s transfer window and now two more key deals could soon be secured.
Jota has made a superb impact in Glasgow since arriving on a season-long loan from Benfica last summer.Celtic have been in talks with the Portuguese winger’s parent club over the prospect of turning that arrangement into a long-term agreement with figures around £6 million mooted. Record Sport understands those talks have progressed well in recent days and the 22-year-old’s full-time switch could be close to reaching completion.
McGree is also being eyed with reports in the United States stating the midfielder can be secured on an initial fee of £2.3 million from MLS franchise Charlotte.The Australian has spent the past 15 months on loan at Birmingham City and received rave reviews for his displays in the English Championship.Birmingham wanted to keep him and there is other interest south of the border from the likes of Middlesbrough, but Postecoglou has now entered the chase for the 23-year-old.The Celtic manager took McGree into his senior international squad at the age of just 18 when he was Socceroos boss and he now has seven caps.Figures quoted in America stated that any concluded deal would rise to a fee of almost £3.5 million with add ons.Postecoglou has already sealed transfers for Japanese trio Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi joining with all three now training at Lennoxtown ahead of the Premiership resumption against Hibs a week tonight.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk