Jota on alert as Celtic hero sees Ittihad next manager plan made to 'suit' Benzema amid Nuno's nervous wait

Exiled Jota is in line for a second chance at Al-Ittihad with under-pressure Nuno fighting for his job with the Saudi Pro League champions.

The former Wolves and Tottenham boss appears to be waging an unwinnable battle after galling defeats to Al-Shabab and Iraq side Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in Asian Champions League group stage action on Monday. And now irked Ittihad chiefs are primed for executive action for the man hit with boos at games before results went south.

Ittihad are winless in their last five league games and a report states star man Karim Benzema had words with Nuno after their humbling Champions League loss. Now Relevo claim decision makers in Jeddah are considering a French boss next with Laurent Blanc namechecked. There's an acceptance within the club that dream target Zinedine Zidane is not within their reach but they want someone with familiarity of key pair Benzema and N'Golo Kante.

Jota has been reduced to appearances in friendlies and ACL games since being sensationally axed form the their league squad weeks after leaving Celtic in a £25m deal. The Parkhead hero has been linked with former boss Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham as he aims to breathe new life in a career which has stalled.

But the next boss has the option to consider Jota for a return to league duty in January with Nuno's exit drawing ever closer.