Fulham are plotting a late move to steal Brentford playmaker Jota from under the noses of Middlesbrough in the dying moments of the August transfer window, according to the Sun this evening.
Jota, who famously scored a last-gasp winner to secure Brentford’s first league win over the Whites in 22 years back in 2014, has long been linked with a move away from Griffin Park after a summer of fevered transfer speculation. The 26 year-old Spaniard has scored 23 goals in 78 appearances since moving to west London from Ceta Vigo three years ago and Brentford placed an £8m price tag on his head.
Middlesbrough have a reported bid of around £4.5m rebuffed for Jota, who has one year left on his current Brentford contract. The Sun claims that Fulham are ready to test just how wedded their local rivals are to their asking price by tabling an offer of £6m and upping Jota’s wages to around £30,000-a-week, which is apparently substantially more than Middlesbrough are offering.
Jota, who returned from a loan spell with Eibar to score twelve goals last term, hit the post in Brentford’s 0-0 draw against Wolves yesterday but was substituted after an hour. Bees boss Dean Smith told the press after the game that he was confident Jota will stay – although the club are braced for late bids as the transfer deadline looms closer.
