Report: Newcastle are eyeing another Saudi loan deal for ‘genius’ 24-year-old forward

Newcastle United are apparently interested in loaning former Celtic winger Jota from Saudi club Al-Ittihad.

Those of you who have been following the latest news in the world of the bitter Premier League will be one step ahead of us here.

Tomorrow, the Premier League owners will meet to vote on a new temporary rule which will prevent clubs with the same owners from loaning players between them. Al-Ittihad is a PIF-backed club which means they have the same owners as Newcastle, so if the vote goes through, Newcastle will not be able to loan Jota, much like they won't be able to loan Ruben Neves from Al-Hilal for the same reason.

It's nothing to do with Newcastle though. Honest.

Don't worry though, this rule is absolutely nothing to do with us, it's just a coincidence that it all came about after Ruben Neves was linked with a January switch to Newcastle. Just coincidence. Nothing to see here. Move along.

PA

The Express are still reporting that Newcastle are interested in a loan move for Jota, however, as the Portuguese has been frozen out of the Al-Ittihad side due to restrictions on foreign players in the Saudi Pro League. Each club can only register eight foreign players and Al-Ittihad have nine on the books and Jota is the one who didn't make the cut.

With that being the case it's safe to say that things haven't got well for the forward since he left Celtic where he was lauded as a 'genius' by Ally McCoist, but as the Express reports, a reunion with Ange Postecoglu could be on the cards as Tottenham are also keen to rescue Jota from his Saudi hell.

Jota will end up at Spurs

Although Jota is a versatile forward and had a knack for finding the net in the Scottish Premier League, he is primarily a winger, and right now that's not as much of a priority for Eddie Howe's depleted side.

Centre-back and striker are two positions that need filling first, along with someone to cover for the absent Sandro Tonali - that looking more and more like it will be Kalvin Phillips which is a great move.

Not that Jota couldn't play as a striker if asked, but given the fact that it's Ange Postecoglu chasing him and the Bittership owners are likely to vote that new rule through tomorrow, we can't see this one going beyond the rumour stage.