Celtic news bulletin on Hakasbanovic and Easton as Jota faces nervy wait while 2 solutions to Ittihad fiasco emerge

Former Celtic star Jota is facing a nervous wait with reports suggesting he could still be included in the Al-Ittihad squad for the new season.

The 24-year-old has suffered a nightmare summer since leaving Parkhead in a bumper £25m move to Saudi Arabia. He's quickly dropped to the fringes of the squad - with reports in the Middle East stating he will not be one of the Saudi Pro League champions' registered foreign players for the upcoming campaign. The winger faces the prospect of being unable to play until after Christmas with a last-gasp switch to Fenerbahce set to be called off.

However, Saudi outlet SABQ claim goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe could be dropped from the matchday list with the September 15 deadline for squads fast approaching. Back-up Abdullah Al-Mayouf would replace the Brazilian as number one. Should Jota remain frozen out, Al-Madina also claim that the club could look to keep him for their AFC Champions League and Club World Cup campaigns despite being unable to take part in the league.

Elsewhere, Stoke City chiefs have dished out lofty praise on loanee Sead Haksabanovic after he was moved on from Celtic. .Haksabanovicleft the Hoops under a cloud after a cryptic social media post claimed “If they don’t see your value maybe you’re not at the right place.”

Despite failing to show his best from at Parkhead, Potters' head of recruitment Jared Dublin was delighted with the deal. He gushed over the recruit stating: “Sead is more of a tight dribbler, jinking type. Maybe he’s not one who is going to run with it the length of the pitch but someone who can drop a shoulder and sit someone down and maybe provide the last pass.

“He’s somebody who has statistically and historically produced goals and assists and