EXCLUSIVE: 13 goals, 7 assists: Celtic target likens himself to £41m Liverpool star and may be next Jota

It is no secret why the Celtic target has been called Portugal’s equivalent of Jack Grealish, with his stylish stubble, grace, and vision in tow, all tied down by a headband.

But the man himself says there’s another Premier League striker who one of Iberia’s most sought-after attackers feels a stronger connection with.

“Diogo Jota’s style reminds me a little bit of myself,” Jota Silva says to The Guardian. “He is an excellent player.”

Since moving from Wolves to Liverpool four years ago, Diogo Jota has been an essential part of manager Jurgen Klopp’s team.

As far as HITC Football is aware, several teams based on both sides of Hadrian’s Wall have expressed interest in signing his namesake, Jota Silva. If Jota Silva is headed to Celtic, he might have to deal with being compared to not Diogo Jota but rather Jota Filippo, the departed winger who, along with Kyogo Furuhashi and Callum McGregor, was perhaps the primary force behind Ange Postecoglou’s teams winning consecutive Scottish Premiership titles.

Premier League teams are considering Portugal’s newest team, HITC, has been informed that other Premier League teams, including promotion-chasing Leicester City, are interested in them in addition to Celtic. From the outside, a team like Wolves, who have long been thought of as a reliable springboard for bright, Portuguese-speaking players, could seem like favourites.

Jota Silva undoubtedly has plenty of ambition for himself. Even though Celtic could find it difficult to compete financially with their southern counterparts, the chance to sit at the top table of Europe at Parkhead could be enough to persuade the Vitoria Guimaraes ace to follow in Jota Filipe’s Glaswegian footsteps.

Jota Silva continues, “I want to be the best football player in the world.” “To compete in the Champions League is my goal.”

Celtic may be doing just that in 2024–2025, assuming they make it through the testing qualification phase. And while Brendan Rodgers’ apparent “stockpiling” of wide forwards during his two stints as manager have frequently been questioned, Jota Silva, who is versatile and able to play all across the frontline, may still have a spot at Parkhead given the departure of Liel Abada to the MLS and James Forrest’s ageing body.

Jota Silva, who splits his time between runs on the right and life on the left, has 13 goals and seven assists for Vitoria this season.

Is the new Jota for Celtics just another Jota?

In the Guimaraes home stadium on Thursday, Portugal’s coach Roberto Martinez gave Jota his first cap and praised the forward’s “versatility” and individuality.

In the view of Portugal teammate and AC Milan talisman Rafael Leao, the former Everton manager, he is a model for late-blooming forwards who choose the hard path to success.

Jota’s former Vitoria coach Joao Aroso tells A Bola, “In big games, where there may be few opportunities, it is important to be efficient.” Aroso highlights the skills that might turn a new player into a joker in Martinez’s squad for the 2024 European Championship.

“He’s a player who can be useful because of his effectiveness. He is a player who can help define a game with more difficulty and score a goal if given the chance. Then, his strong mental side may play a significant role.

“In training, he is a really dedicated player. You see in training what you see in the games. He is devoted to being a top-tier athlete and works hard at it.

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