West Ham United want to sign Jota from Al-Ittihad after Ibrahim Osman, talks held
West Ham United have held talks over signing Portuguese forward Jota in a cheap deal from Al-Ittihad as they close in on a deal for Ibrahm Osman according to reports.
Writing on their website (24 January), talkSPORT report that the winger wants to leave Saudi Arabia and has interest from three clubs in the Premier League including the Hammers.
And Sportlens (24 January) report Newcastle United are one of those club providing competition for his signature, but there is hope a deal can be done after he was left out of the Saudi club’s latest training camp in Dubai.
“West Ham are one of three Premier League clubs who have held talks with former Celtic forward Jota about a January move, talkSPORT understands,” talkSPORT wrote.
“His move to Al-Ittihad has not gone to plan at all after joining for £25million from Celtic last summer, as the Portuguese winger has endured a very tough time of things in the Middle East – being left out of the squad and not even included in a recent training camp in Dubai,” according to Dean Jones.
“It’s that latest development that suggests there will be no way back for Jota, which has sparked hope at West Ham and Newcastle that they might be able to land the 24-year-old on a cheaper deal.”
Desperate
The transfer window looked as though it was going to be pretty quiet until injury issues meant the club needed to be smart with the squad.
West Ham are close to signing Osman in a deal worth in excess of £15m but he is seen as more of one for the future than someone who will make an immediate impact, and the situation in attack at the club means more reinforcements are needed.
Michail Antonio is injured and falling down the pecking order, Lucas Paqueta is facing up to two months out while Danny Ings, Maxwel Cornet and Said Benrahma could all leave before the deadline and nobody would be surprised.
That means quality options are needed just in case in order to make up for it, and Jota would certainly be that considering his previous experience at Celtic winning titles and playing in the Champions League, so a cheap deal would absolutely perfect for David Moyes’ squad.
In other West Ham news, ‘Phenomenal’ attacker “trying to leave” current club with Hammers transfer expected.
