Jota to Celtic transfer latest as new Benfica clue firms up permanent return chances

Everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet as far as Jota is concerned and it seems like it's only a matter of time.

Celtic have already agreed to pay the £6.4m transfer fee and reports from Portugal have long been suggesting it's a case of when rather than if he'll sign on the dotted line.

As previously reported by Record Sport, personal terms are the only hold-up, but an agreement there is likely to be reached once he's back from holiday and Celtic return for pre-season - if not before then.

The latest from Portugal comes as Abola report that selling players to make room in the squad is a priority for Benfica and with that in mind they'll be pushing Jota towards the exit door.

As impressive as his season was at Celtic, his chances of a career revival in Lisbon look next to non-existent.

Fellow winger Pizzi is ahead of him in the pecking order and even he's being moved on - with Brazilian winger David Neres set to be announced as a replacement.

They're splashing the cash earned from Darwin Nunez's sale to Liverpool and moving Jota on is an important part of that shake-up.

But he has a new home at Celtic Ange Postecoglou will be keen to have him all signed up before the Hoops head off for pre-season in the first week of July.

There's still a couple of weeks to kill before then though and that is likely why Celtic aren't forcing it.

Everyone wants the deal to happen and, barring anything dramatic, it's just a matter of time.