Diogo Jota has been a key cog in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool machine since joining from Wolves four years ago.
HITC Football understands that his namesake Jota Silva has now been lined up by a number of clubs based on either side of Hadrian’s Wall. And if Celtic is to be his destination, Jota Silva may have to face up to comparisons with not Diogo Jota but Jota Filipe, the much-missed winger who was perhaps the main contributor – alongside Kyogo Furuhashi and Callum McGregor – to successive Scottish Premiership titles under Ange Postecoglou.
HITC have been told that, in addition to Celtic, there is also interest from a host of Premier League sides, plus promotion-chasing Leicester City. A Wolves outfit who have long been seen as a stable launchpad for ambitious, Portuguese-speaking talents may be viewed as favourites from an outside perspective.
Jota Silva certainly isn’t lacking in ambition himself. But while Celtic may struggle to compete with their southern neighbours when it comes to financial matters, the prospect of a seat at Europe’s top table at Parkhead could be enough to convince the Vitoria Guimaraes ace to follow in Jota Filipe’s Glaswegian footsteps.
“I want to reach the top of world football,” Jota Silva adds. “I want to play in the Champions League.”
Celtic, should they survive a testing qualification phase, could be doing just that in 2024/25. And while Brendan Rodgers, during two spells at the helm, has often come into question for an apparent ‘stockpiling’ of wide forwards, the departure of Liel Abada to the MLS and the ageing limbs of James Forrest mean there could yet be a place at Parkhead for Jota Silva; adaptable and ambidextrous enough to play all across the frontline.
Jota Silva has 13 goals and seven assists for Vitoria this term, while splitting his time between life on the left and runs on the right.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez, while handing Jota his first Portugal cap in Guimaraes’ home stadium against Sweden on Thursday, hailed the forward’s ‘versatility’ and his uniqueness.
He is, the former Everton manager’s opinion shared by AC Milan talisman and Portugal team-mate Rafael Leao, a role model for late-blooming forward’s taking the long route to the top.
“In big games, where there may be few opportunities, it is important to be efficient,” Jota’s former Vitoria coach Joao Aroso tells A Bola, highlighting the talents which could make a newcomer to Martinez’s squad a joker in the Portuguese pack at Euro 2024.
“He is a player who, due to his effectiveness, can help. He is a player who, if given the opportunity, can score a goal and can help define a game with a higher level of difficulty. Then, the mental aspect, where he is very strong, can be important.
“He is a very committed player in training. What you see in the games, you see in training. He is very dedicated and is focused on being a high-performance athlete.”
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