---
title: "Celtic: Alex McLeish reacts to Jota update"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-alex-mcleish-reacts-to-jota-update/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-12-12T12:15:12Z"
modified: "2021-12-12T12:15:12Z"
---

# Celtic: Alex McLeish reacts to Jota update

**Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has been reacting to rumours of a permanent swoop from Celtic for loanee Jota, as per [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/mcleish-very-surprised-by-sky-update-on-celtic-move-to-sign-jota/).**

### The Lowdown: January move

Jota has proven to be an inspired signing for the Hoops, contributing to [14](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jota/leistungsdaten/spieler/329812) goals in his [18](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jota/leistungsdaten/spieler/329812) appearances in green and white.

The 22-year-old is currently out due to a [hamstring](https://twitter.com/jhnmcgnly/status/1467462630902317063?s=21) injury, but as reported by [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12488152/celtic-transfer-news-daizen-maeda-reo-hatate-and-yosuke-ideguchi-targets-for-ange-postecoglou), Celtic are expected to trigger their £6.5m option to make his loan permanent.

[Celtic updates!!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-18/)

The Hoops are set to do just that before the summer, so a January move is a real possibility.

### The Latest: McLeish reacts

McLeish, who regularly contributes for [BBC Radio 5 Live](https://icdb.tv/stats/1454/Alex-McLeish), was talking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/mcleish-very-surprised-by-sky-update-on-celtic-move-to-sign-jota/) regarding the update on Jota.

Here is what he had to say in reply, admitting that he is ‘very surprised’ about a January move for the winger, who he called a ‘game-changer’:

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375302″\]

> “When he came in at first, I thought work in progress. Probably a work in progress for the Portuguese team to take him back after the loan spell.
>
> “Very surprised that they’re willing to let him go in January, given the form that he’s been in. He really has expressed himself as a very good technical player. He’s taken people on, scored goals, worked hard.
>
> “These are all the traits a manager loves in individual players, especially when he can change the game with his skills. As we say, a game-changer.
>
> “If Celtic can buy him, he’s a very good, young, potentially great player.”

### The Verdict: Celtic making their mark

Should Celtic complete a permanent transfer in the region of £6.5m, it would be the most expensive signing of the Ange Postecoglou era, surpassing Kyogo Furuhashi’s [£4.86m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/celtic-glasgow/transfers/verein/371) move over the summer. However, even though it would take a relatively big fee, it could prove to be a steal in the long run.

You’d expect that Jota is still far from his prime at the age of 22, so a long-term deal could see his valuation increase past the £6.5m mark should he continue to impress in Glasgow.

Celtic could reap the rewards with impressive displays on the pitch and eventually go on to make a big profit on the Portuguese attacker when the time is right, in the likely event that wealthier clubs submit a tempting offer.

***In other news: [Celtic allegedly now looking at signing 34-assist ace in January; he’s his agency’s biggest star](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-hoops-linked-with-niko-gieselmann/)***