Former Benfica star Alvaro Magalhaes has urged the club to set Jota loose to join Celtic on a permanent deal.
The winger has set Parkhead alight since his summer loan switch and it's widely believed they can make it permanent for around £6million.
That looks good value for the 22-year-old who has ten goals and ten assists in 32 appearances under Ange Postecoglou this season.
Record Sport previously revealed that talks between the clubs were progressing well but there is yet to be an announcement - with both likely waiting until the end of the season before any permanent move is rubber-stamped.
But Benfica hero Alvaro, who won four Portuguese league titles with them between 1981 and 1990, reckons the time is right for his old club to let Jota go permanently.
He reckons he has had his chance with the Lisbon giants and now needs a fresh start with no strings attached.
Alvaro told Portuguese outlet Record : “I think so (he should be sold to Celtic). He has had many opportunities and has not managed to consolidate his quality as a player.
"He was loaned and there is no doubt that he is having a good season in Scotland.
“There are players who have quality and value, but often they don’t adapt to their own coaches. It could be that, with another coach, he could create status at Benfica.
“But he had several opportunities – I don’t care if they were many or few – and at Benfica you don’t have to have 10 chances, you have to take one and take it. There’s no doubt he’s adapted better in Scotland and he’s doing extremely well.”
