Jota sees Steven Gerrard loan bid fail as former Rangers boss attempt to free ex Celtic hero comes to late

A late attempt to sign Jota on loan by Steven Gerrard failed with the Portuguese facing months on the sidelines at Al Ittihad.

The former Rangers boss tried to sign the ex-Celtic wide man on loan for Al-Ettifaq with just minutes remaining of the Saudi Pro League transfer window, which closed on Thursday night. Jota is set to be axed from the ittihad squad as they prepare to register new signing Luiz Felipe instead. Saudi clubs can only register eight foreign players and the signing of the former Betis defender - who now won't face Rangers in the Europa League group stage - means Jota is the player set to miss out.

Gerrard, who will have watched on as Jota did the business against his former employers in the Scottish Premiership, spotted an opportunity to add some real quality to his Ettifaq squad late on deadline day. An agreement was eventually reached, according to IttiMania Twitter, but with only half-an-hour until the Saudi window closed, leaving not enough time for the paperwork to be completed.

Now Jota will likely be idle until the window opens again in January. It remains to be seen if gerrard wil try again, or Jota will cut his losses and return to Europe after what as been a disastrous departure from Glasgow.

Brendan Rodgers has been trying to replace Jota all summer and a loan move may appeal to both player and former club. However, he is likely to have richer suitors on the continent after impressing fopr the Scottish champions last season, and they will be able to cover more of his eye watering Al Ittihad wages,