Celtic are still hot on the pursuit to sign former loan stars Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent basis this summer, claims Record Sport.
The Lowdown: Successful loans
Both players enjoyed massively successful loan spells at the Glasgow outfit during the 2021/22 season.
Having arrived from Portuguese giants Benfica, Jota scored seven goals and produced eight assists in 24 league appearances for the Hoops. As a result, the 23-year-old was rated Celtic’s third most valuable player this season, with a stunning 7.56 SofaScore rating.
Arriving on loan from Premier league side Tottenham, Carter-Vickers played 33 games in the Scottish Premiership, where he contributed to the side’s Championship winning campaign with 4.2 clearances and 1.2 interceptions per game, earning himself a 7.33 match rating (via SofaScore).
The Latest: Celtic still in pursuit
According to Record Sport, Celtic are continuing in their pursuit to sign former loanees Jota and Carter-Vickers. Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou personally wants the pair signed up on a permanent basis.
It is understood that a £6.5m fee was included in Jota’s loan agreement from Benfica, whilst Carter-Vickers is available for an initial £6m, with future add-ons raising the price to £10m.
The Verdict: Good signings
Having formed a core component of Postecoglou’s dominant Premiership winning side, it is clear to see why the Hoops boss is so keen on a reunion with the pair at Celtic Park.
Carter-Vickers was instrumental in Celtic’s back-line, demonstrated by comparisons made to positional peers across Europe, where he ranked in the 84th percentile for aerials won and in the 82nd percentile for interceptions made over the past year (via FB Ref).
Jota was equally important to the Hoops, having finished the season as the side’s top assister. His 2.7 shots and 1.7 dribbles per game added a direct threat to Postecoglou’s attack, with the Glasgow side scoring an emphatic 92 goals in the league this season.
If Celtic can get these signings over the line, they could prove to be more important than any other signings this summer.
In other news: Alex McLeish urges Hoops to get Jota deal done ASAP!