West Ham have directly spoken to £200,000-a-week winger about joining them this month

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David Moyes’s West Ham United are trying to sign Jota in the final days of the January transfer window.

That is according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, who has reported the steps that West Ham have taken to get a deal done.

So, what has been reported about West Ham United and Jota? Let’s take a look.

West Ham United want to sign Jota

Well, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook in GiveMeSport, West Ham United are interested in signing former Celtic winger Jota in the final days of the January transfer window.

Crook has reported that West Ham have directly spoken to the Al-Ittihad winger. The reporter has claimed that other Premier League clubs have also spoken to the Portuguese winger. Newcastle United have been linked. Tottenham Hotspur are interested as well.

The problem that West Ham are facing in signing Jota is that he is on a weekly salary of £200,000. The Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg has reported that the Hammers are looking at a potential loan deal for the 24-year-old.

Crook told GiveMeSport: “They’re not too far apart I don’t think (with Ibrahim Osman), about €4 million in terms of what they’ve offered and what the selling club are willing to accept. I think this one is being driven by Tim Steidten, the sporting director.  

“Jota, is another player they’ve also spoken to as well. I’ve been told that as many as four or five Premier League clubs have spoken with him, but he’s on £200,000 a week, which is a problem.

“I think Steidten feels they need an out-and-out number nine, but David Moyes doesn’t necessarily think that. So, maybe the emphasis is more on bringing a sort of wide forward who can play for the middle if needed, like Jarrod Bowen has been doing.”

My View: West Ham should not sign Jota

In my opinion, West Ham United should not sign Jota even on a loan deal this week. I think that it would be a risky signing for the Hammers.

First of all, Jota’s wages are massive. Would Al-Ittihad really be willing to subsidise his £200,000-a-week salary? What benefit would that be for them?

Secondly, Jota does not have experience playing in the Premier League. Now, that does mean that he would not be a success in England, but you have to take into consideration the fact that he was turning out in the Scottish Premiership just a few months ago and has hardly played in recent times.

Jota has made five substitute appearances in the Saudi Pro League and has played four times in the AFC Champions League for Al-Ittihad this season.

Would the winger be able to hit the ground running at West Ham? I am not so sure.