Sheffield United Opinion: Blades should not hesitate to play a gamble on Birmingham’s Jota
According to reports from the Sheffield Star, Premier League new boys Sheffield United are looking to add some creativity to their midfield options in the summer and the Blades have identified Birmingham City’s Jota as a potential option for that purpose.
Birmingham City had a rather disappointing campaign in the Championship this term but Jota was one of the standout performers for Garry Monk’s side. The 27-year-old Spaniard contributes with 3 goals and 14 assists in 40 league appearances and once again proved his worth as a versatile creative midfielder.
A youth product of Spanish club Celta Vigo, Jota featured primarily for the reserve team of his boyhood club and spent time on loan at Real Madrid, where he also featured for the reserves in the Segunda Division after failing to make the first-team grade.
He had a short stint at Eibar in the La Liga before being snapped up by Championship outfit Brentford back in the summer of 2014.
Jota rose to prominence in the second-tier of English football with the Bees and carved out a massive reputation for himself as one of most creative outlets in the Championship. The Spaniard racked up an impressive 23 goals and 11 assists in 78 appearances before Birminghman City came calling for the services and signed him up for a then club-record fee of £6 million.
The 27-year-old has plied his trade successfully in the Championship over the last four or five seasons and the time might just be right for him to test his credentials at a bigger stage, with Sheffield United keen on securing his services in the summer transfer window.
The Blades secured automatic promotion to the top flight as runners-up to Norwich City in the Championship and manager Chris Wilder earned plenty of plaudits for his defensive organisation.
Sheffield conceded only 41 goals throughout the campaign and shared the joint-best defensive record with Middlesbrough in the division, meaning that they need to focus more on improving other areas of their squad.
The likes of Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick showcased their prolific nature in the Championship this past season but neither of them is likely to play a big part in the Premier League, given that they are already on the other side of 30 and have no prior experience of playing in the top flight.
Mark Duffy filled in the role of a playmaker behind the striker this term but he is also 33 and the Blades need to look for other options in the market.
Bringing in some proven Premier League players is the need of the hour at Bramall Lane but Wilder should also look to add a bit of unpredictability and X-factor to his squad.
Jota has proven himself to be a reliable source of goals and assists in the Championship over the years and it would be fair to say that the Spaniard has certainly outgrown the second-division.
To put things into perspective, Jota’s acquisition can add that bit of flair and elegance to Sheffield’s attack. A sharp, agile, technically-gifted midfielder, Jota is primarily a right-winger by trade but he is equally adept at playing on the left and through the centre in a No.10 role behind the striker.
An elegant left-footed attacker noted for his good turn of pace, acceleration, flair and trickery on the ball, Jota excels with his ability to create his own space with intricate touches down the flanks, while also possessing the vision and accuracy to pick out key passes in the final third.
The Spaniard is also a very good crosser from the wide areas and has shown the ability to string together slick passing moves.
A recognised distance-shooter, Jota boasts of an absolute wand of a left foot that is capable of calling the goalkeeper into action from range.
The 27-year-old averaged 2.1 key passes, 1.1 dribbles, 1.9 crosses and 1.5 successful long balls per game in the Championship this term, figures which speak volumes of his playmaking abilities.
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Sheffield United need to add more quality to their squad to thrive in the Premier League and playing a gamble on Jota won’t be the worst move after all.
