Player agrees to join West Ham, waits to jet in for medical

West Ham have agreed terms with Jota and the winger is waiting for a transfer to be lined up so he can travel for a medical, according to Santi Aouna.

The Foot Mercato journalist reported via Twitter on 29 January that the former Celtic player is on standby to head to the UK amid “positive” negotiations between the Hammers and his club.

The Portuguese only left Parkhead for the Saudi Pro League in the summer but quickly proved surplus to requirements and wasn’t registered as part of the squad for league matches.

Aouna wrote: “Agreement reached between Jota and West Ham. Positive talks are taking place between Al-Ittihad and West Ham. Sources feel clubs they can reach full agreement.

Attacking reinforcements look to be key this month and having landed Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City on loan attention has now turned to the forward areas.

It appeared FC Nordsjaelland’s Ibrahim Osman was going to be the next addition, but that deal has broken down in controversial circumstances and despite claims in the UK that it could still happen it looks like it won’t be possible.

So it is a positive that West Ham have moved fast to make a big step forward on bringing in an alternative before the deadline.

Separate from the drama around the Ibrahim situation Jota, 24, has been left in a bizarre situation of his own this season, having been a £25million signing in the summer [Sky Sports, 5 July] only for Al-Ittihad to quickly decide they didn’t need him for the majority of their fixtures.

As such he has only played 11 times for his new side and is already available for a move, so as much as West Ham need new options in attack he also needs somewhere he can play.

A lack of match-practice means there is risk involved in terms of how long it would take him to be ready to make an impact for David Moyes, assuming a deal gets over the line.

His wages in the Saudi Pro League would logically have been the biggest stumbling block, so if it was a permanent move the agreement with Jota himself is a major achievement, but if it is set to be a loan in the first instance it is likely that club-level talks are focused on how much each side will cover this term.