The key Jota reason Celtic hero WON'T get Saudi second chance emerges as Tottenham 'target' flips the script on Nuno

Sidelined Jota has reportedly told Al-Ittihad boss Nuno Espírito Santo that he wants to leave the club by January at the LATEST amid talks over ripping up his contract.

It comes amid attempts from the Portuguese boss to phase the former Celtic star back into the first-team picture following an injury layoff - hinting a second chance could be on the cards for the 24-year-old. The wide man is unavailable for Saudi Pro League fixtures for the defending champions having been left out of the allocated list of foreign players for league games - meaning Jota can only feature in AFC Champions League and Club World Cup fixtures this term.

That would be unless changes are made to the squad list in January by former Tottenham and Wolves boss - but the forward appears to have made his stance clear on his future in the Middle East during a nightmare spell. Jota signed for the Tigers for £25m deal in July as he left the Scottish Premiership champions in a mega-money deal, but was dropped to the fringes of the squad almost immediately.

He left to play alongside the likes of Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante, but amid reported interest from Tottenham, Saudi outlet Sport 360 claim the Scottish Treble winner has made his position clear. The player's agent is said to remain in contact with the club over terminating the deal, but if a deal is not agreed between all parties he wants to be sent to Europa on loan or sold.

It had suggested that Jota would ramp up his minutes away from league action with Nuno "supervising" his progress behind the scenes. However, the "delegation" representing the player hope to see him leave the Pro League as soon as possible with Ange Postecoglou "interested" in a cut-price deal to bring him to the English