Celtic transfer state of play as Jota 'ordered OFF' Ittihad cull list and 3 Edouard approaches made

Misfit Jota has been handed a firm second chance to prove himself at Al-Ittihad - with new boss Laurent Blanc ordering that he is removed from the transfer list.

The Portuguese star is Celtic's record sale after his £25m move to Saudi Arabia last summer but he's endured a torrid time of it in the Middle East. He was left out of their squad by Nuno Espirito Santo in the first half of the season, and although he returned for the run-in, he struggled to replicate the sparkling Parkhead form that earned him his money-spinning move.

Ittihad have been keen to cut down their foreign player quota which is currently in breach of Saudi Pro League regulations and it had looked highly likely Jota would be moved on. But the arrival of new boss, former France manager Laurent Blanc, appears to have given him a new lease of life. It's reported he has ordered that Jota and defender Luiz Felipe, who had also been earmarked for a sale, be removed from the transfer list until he gets the chance to assess them himself.

Elsewhere, former Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard isn't likely to be short of offers this summer. And it's claimed three clubs have already made their move for the Crystal Palace misfit.

Edouard has shone in spells since his move from Celtic to the English Premier League but lost the battle for starts with the prolific Jean-Philippe Mateta towards the end of last season. The French striker is into the final year of his contract and Palace are open to a sale to mitigate the risk of losing him for free.

Fabrizio Romano says he's had three approaches with clubs in Serie A and elsewhere in the Premier League keen. A return to Parkhead had been floated but it seems Adam Idah is the striker Brendan Rodgers wants with Norwich talks