Stade Rennes boss Jorge Sampaoli appears to have left the door open for Jota to leave the club in January.
The 25-year-old only made the move to Ligue 1 last summer after leaving a nightmare spell in the Saudi Pro League – just 12 months after the winger left Celtic for the mega-rich Al-Ittihad in a £25million move. However, reports in France suggest that the club could be ready to move on the Portuguese star to fund Sampaoli’s spending next month.
Asked about the future of Jota – who has yet to be handed a single start by the Argentine boss since he replace Julian Stephen last month – before the clash with Bordeaux on Sunday, Sampaoli said: It’s a difficult market. I need players ready for January, not for the long term. January will determine many things, I hope for good players who will allow us to improve the squad.”
The Hoops are also reportedly in the race to sign Chelsea fringe man on loan in January – with the door left open by boss Enzo Maresca for a January exit. The Premier League heavyweights splashed around £20million put he his failed to make his mark at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking before Sunday’s clash with Everton, he said: “There are players that unfortunately didn’t play a lot with us in all the competitions like (Ben) Chilwell, like Carney (Chukwuemeka). Probably they are the first [to say] that they want to leave because they train every day, because they want to play games and if they don’t play games probably they are thinking of leaving.
“Each player is a bit different situation. So we’re going to see if some of them are coming and knocking on the door to say ‘I want to leave’ or something like that. We will try to find a solution.”
Another man who has been on the Hoops agenda recently is Mathias Kvistgaarden. Brondby are reportedly holding out for an £11million payday for the versatile forward.
It would seem unlikely that Celtic will match their transfer record in the winter window having splashed £11million on Arne Engels less than six months ago. However, the Dane appears to be in no rush to leave his current side and is prepared to wait until the summer.
Asked by Fjæstid if he is ready to go abroad, Kvistgaarden replied: “100 percent, and as soon as possible. Now it’s starting to be time.
“I’ve said for many years that I’m happy to be in Brøndby, and that I don’t mind being in Brøndby, but now I’m starting to find myself in a situation where I want to go out and try something different. My plan is for it to be this summer.”