Celtic are expected to strengthen their squad as they fly high at the top of the Premiership table.
The transfer window always throws up drama and Kieran Tierney returning to Celtic is expected to be the talk of town this month.
Tierney has only played once for Arsenal this season – after a loan spell at Real Sociedad during the last campaign – following the hamstring injury he suffered for Scotland at Euro 2024 in the summer.
This has excited the Celtic supporters because the Scotsman is still a high-quality player and someone who can take the club to the next level.
It also needs to be noted that the Bhoys are heading towards the knockout stages of the Champions League, so that extra quality could prove to be a huge difference.
But whilst there is noise around Tierney, Ross McCormack threw up the name of another star, who shone under Ange Postecoglou, possibly returning to Parkhead.
Ross McCormack claims there is talk about Jota returning to Celtic with Kieran Tierney
Jota was incredible under Postecoglou and a key reason why Celtic returned to dominating ways on the domestic stage by winning the Treble.
But the Saudi Arabia money was starting to come into the European game and the all-action winger headed to Al-Ittihad for a big fee in 2023.
It’s something the powers that be at Parkhead couldn’t turn down, but McCormack, when discussing what Celtic need in the transfer market, claimed ‘there is talk’ of Jota coming back, alongside Tierney, as he told Open Goal.
A question was asked ‘will Celtic strengthen in January?’ And McCormack responded: “Where do you strengthen, though? There is talk about Jota and Tierney (returning).
“I am with you on that (on Celtic needing another centre-forward). A striker 100%. They have to do more. How many times have you seen it when the ball comes up? By the way, it’s not bad service he (Idah) is getting either. It’s into his feet. It’s not like it is getting shelled up to his neck and it’s hard to get hold of. Trying to lay it off the first time and giving it away and stuff. It’s just his goal return.”
Where is Jota now after leaving Celtic?
To put it in a nutshell, it hasn’t worked out for Jota and you wonder if there is a realistic chance of the Portuguese star coming back because the fans would welcome it with open arms.
After leaving Glasgow, he only played 25 matches in the Saudi Pro League, alongside the likes of Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante at Al-Ittihad, before leaving last summer for French club, Rennes.
| Club | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Al-Ittihad | 25 | 5 | 1 |
Once again, Jota is still trying to find his feet and his struggles continue, this time in France’s top-tier where he is managed by Jorge Sampaoli.
He has only started three Ligue 1 matches and was an unused substitute during Rennes’ 3-2 defeat to Nice after the New Year.
| Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Minutes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ligue 1 | 9 | 1 | – | 331′ |
 | Coupe de France | 1 | – | 1 | 30′ |
| Total 24/25: | 10 | 1 | 1 | 361′ | |
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