Jota: Who is the Blues forward closing in on a move to Aston Villa?

We take a proper look at the Blues man here to see what he could bring to Villa as they look to take on the Premier League next season.

Factfile

Full name: José Ignacio Peleteiro Ramallo

Age: 27

DOB: 16/6/1991

Nationality: Spanish

Position: RW/LW/CAM

Height: 1.80m

Previous clubs: Birmingham City, Brentford, SD Eibar, Celta Vigo, RM Castilla.

Career stats

Birmingham City (all competitions):

2018/19 - 41 appearances, three goals, nine assists.

2017/18 - 34 appearances, five goals, two assists.

Brentford (all competitions):

2017/18 - four appearances, no goals, three assists.

2016/17 - 23 appearances, 12 goals, five assists.

2015/16 - five appearances, no goals, no assists.

2014/15 - 46 appearances, 11 goals, three assists.

SD Eibar (all competitions):

2016/17 - seven appearances, no goals, no assists.

2015/16 - 13 appearances, no goals, no assists.

2013/14 - 37 appearances, 11 goals, three assists.

RM Castilla (all competitions):

2012/13 - three appearances, no goals, no assists.

Celta Vigo (all competitions):

2011/12 - three appearances, no goals, no assists.

2010/11 - four appearances, no goals, no assists.

What kind of player is Jota?

Forward thinking and most dangerous with the ball at his feet, Jota's signing at Aston Villa would come as a shock to say the least.

The 27-year-old is best employed on the right wing, normally preferring to cut into the middle of the park on to his stronger left foot, although as with many forwards and wingers, is capable of playing on either side of the pitch or down the middle.

With plenty of pace, he can certainly cause problems for opposing defenders and full backs, best seen during his time with Brentford under now-Villa boss Dean Smith.

His best showings certainly came under the former Walsall boss, most notably in the 2016/17 season, in which he scored 12 goals in only 23 appearances for the Bees.

The Spaniard was an integral cog for the Londoners that season, regularly contributing going forward, although it's yet to be seen whether that kind of form can be reproduced in the top flight, with all of his seasons in England coming outside of the Premier League.

That form earned him a move to Blues, where despite flashes of quality, he has yet to replicate that kind of production - admittedly in a team which didn't quite perform at the level of Villa.

Now in his 'peak' years, Jota will undoubtedly have a point to prove in England, whether he can have the impact he did at Brentford with Villa we're yet to see.

Will he fit in at Villa?

Making the move across the Second City isn't easy, he'll be the first man to do so directly since 1983 - although given his previous form under Dean Smith you'd imagine he's set up to flourish if he's given the chance.

The player many Villa fans may relate him to however is Scott Hogan, who was similarly prolific under Smith, only to struggle upon the boss's appointment at B6.

However, his pace and trickery should provide a spark for Villa on the wing. With Albert Adomah leaving the club and Andre Green still developing, Jota could prove a wise addition to add some quality to Villa's front line.

Of course, with Smith getting the best of Jota's abilities during his spell with Brentford, there's clearly scope that he could provide the goods at Villa Park.

He should drop into Smith's style of play seamlessly, whilst fans will hope he provides some kind of defensive qualities too in the boss's favoured 4-3-3 formation.

What is Jota capable of?

Take a look below at this highlight package showcasing Jota's qualities during his time at Brentford.

Jota in quotes

On a change of manager at clubs:

"It is true when you come for the manager who signed you, they pay a lot of money, I had a lot of expectation for the supporters because last year I am at the top level.

"It is difficult always when you change the manager when you sign for one place, when the manager calls you and he says I want you in my team, I want you to be one of the players I want always in the team.

"Then the manager changes and in coming is another manager. I can’t say the situation then.

"Some managers like more you, others don’t. I do the same things now as I do before."

On scoring goals and providing assists:

"I only want to try to keep working for the team, for the club. Now I am very happy because I think the club is in the right way to have success."

"One of the most things in football, for the team to be competent is that everyone understands and is clear. If you go to the game and you are not clear ‘If I go left...’ it’s difficult.

"I think all the work I am doing is good on the pitch, I am playing well but I want to keep my level up and try to help the team the maximum on the pitch and off the pitch.

"There is always more to come. This time now we have had nine games, I think I am doing good performances but obviously I want to score more goals and I want more assists.

"But the most important is the work and the performance because the goals will come.

"If you are doing the right things they will come but you can’t wait ‘God, give me goals’.

"I am not anxious for goals or assists, I want to help the team, I am helping the team to run this way, for me the most important is to try and get the three points every week.

"If I can score more goals, perfect, but if another one scores, [and] I do my job very well, I am very happy too.

"You can not only play with the ball, I know I have quality with the ball, maybe it is my best thing,

"I like the work in the games, I understand and I believe in it and I enjoy this part of the game.

"Sometimes before in my career, maybe I didn’t enjoy that process of the game but here I am really happy to play like this, it’s the way to keep going up."

Garry Monk on Jota's quality and his 2017/18 season:

"He’s an important player, everyone knows what he’s capable of,"

"He’s been disappointed with this season and with himself.

"Obviously the situation the team has been in is difficult for everyone but there’s a lot more to come from them."

Jota on his time at Brentford:

"For me I had a happy time at Brentford and had good friends there. I have a lot of respect for Brentford."

Harlee Dean on Jota in 2018:

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jota is the player in this league,"

"I don't think his performances last season after he joined the club were about settling in, I think it was about the way he was handled before Garry and his staff came in.

"They've come in and got the best out of him and got him back to the player I know he is and the player that obviously he wants to be.

"I still think there's more to come from him yet. I've seen him score a lot of goals and create a lot of chances at Brentford.

"His performances have been outstanding this season and when his luck turns he'll kick on and we'll see more goals and people will realise what a good player we've got on our hands. If they haven't already."