CELTIC and Benfica are reportedly advancing in talks over Jota's move to Glasgow being made permanent.

Portuguese outlet A Bola claim progress is being made over the potential deal which would see the 22-year-old winger move to Celtic on a permananent basis.

The report claims Celtic have made up their mind and wish to purchase Benfica in a full transfer. It's rumoured discussions will begin at a figure of €7.5 million (£6.5m) as a "starting point" for negotiations.

The figure had been thought to have been a loan-to-buy clause for Jota but the Portuguese media see it as the entry-point to negotiations.

Jota made an electric start to his Celtic career after jetting in over the summer as he bagged eight goals and six assists in 18 matches.

The winger has been sidelined recently however after suffering a hamstring injury.

A Bola state the player returned to Portugal with the Scottish Premiership paused for the winter break for treatment on the muscle injury.

Quizzed over a permanent move for Jota in October, Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou commented: “We’ll always make decisions that are in the best interests of the football club and also the player.

“Jota is just starting his career but he’s already fallen in love with the club. He loves the environment here and the supporters. Who wouldn’t? Who wouldn’t want to play for a football club where you get 60,000 cheering you on? The crowd is something special.

“Let’s just let him enjoy it. Those kind of decisions will come in due course.

“From our perspective, I know everyone here is the same, we’ll do what’s best for the football club moving forward and that will be in consultation with the player’s wishes.”

Postecoglou has already added three new faces to his Celtic squad in the January window. He moved quickly to secure Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Yosuke Ideguchi in a J-League triple swoop.