Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah’s potential move to Al Ittihad could have a major impact on Jota’s future at the Saudi Pro League club, according to reports.
Jota joined Nuno Espirito Santo’s side from Celtic for £25million in July, but the 24-year-old has had a tough start to life in the Middle East, with reports claiming he could leave Al Ittihad just a month after his arrival.
Speaking back in August, Saudi journalist Waleed Al Farraj stated that the Saudi club’s hierarchy are keen to get rid of the winger because he “does not serve the team”.
However, the Portuguese forward is now reportedly “key” to Nuno’s vision at the club, so long as they sign Liverpool’s Salah.
That’s according to The Athletic, who state: “Jota was initially signed with a view to switching to Espirito Santo’s favoured system with wingers, but has so far played with a narrow diamond.
“Salah and Jota are ‘key to that vision’ but a lack of headway with Salah has proved troubling. That means Al Ittihad “either find an alternative target for the left-wing position or stick to their current narrow set-up which leaves them with a Jota question to answer.”
Salah was the subject of an eye-watering £215 million bid fro Al Ittihad on Tuesday, according to The Sun, with the Saudi Pro League transfer window due to close on Thursday September 7.
Although Jurgen Klopp has continually insisted Salah is not for sale this summer, confirming the 31-year-old was committed to Liverpool in his post-match press conference after the Reds’ 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
I never had any doubt about his commitment to this club,” Klopp said.
“You can’t imagine how much fuss the world has made but how calm we are with it. He is our player and wants to play here. He didn’t tell me [he wants to stay] but he didn’t have to. He speaks with his training and performances and behaviour.
“We had meetings this week, and the meetings were not about what we did in the past, it was about what we will do in the future. Mo was with the players’ [leadership] committee and had his moments where he was talking and it was nothing like ‘by the way, this is only until next week’ or whatever.
