West Ham United locked in talks with Jota, loan until 2025 now on the cards
West Ham are in talks with Al-Ittihad winger Jota over a potential 18-month loan deal after having their latest bid for Nordsjaelland’s Ibrahim Osman rejected, according to The Standard.
The newspaper reported via its website on 30 January that David Moyes admires the 24-year-old who remains highly rated following his spell with Celtic under Ange Postecoglou.
Wages were expected to be a stumbling block to the deal, but it is reported by The Standard that the winger is paid just £80,000 per week in Saudi Arabia, rather than the rumoured £200,000 per week. [Claret & Hugh, 29 January]
A better deal than expected
Initial rumours surrounding a loan move were exciting at West Ham, but if that move is for 18 months rather than just the six until the end of the season, the move becomes even more appealing for the Hammers.
His 28 goals and 26 assists in 83 games in Scotland show promising numbers, and if he could translate those to the Premier League, and should this deal go through, Moyes could have a real player on his hands.
With his wages seemingly agreeable at £80,000 per week, given reports that West Ham are paying Kalvin Phillips’ £135,000 per week wages in full during his loan spell, it seems to be only tax issues which stand in the way of this deal going through.
However, the report also shares that Spurs boss Postecoglou has reservations about whether Jota could cut it in the Premier League, despite having managed him at Celtic and therefore knowing his game best, so that may be one to keep an eye on.
In other West Ham news, the club held transfer talks on Monday.
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