CELTIC are on the brink of signing fans’ favourite Paddy Roberts – according to reports from across the border. This is consistent from the information CQN gave you almost two weeks ago.
The little Englishman brought down the curtain on his 18-month loan deal from Manchester City in the 2-1 Scottish Cup Final win over Aberdeen.
But Hoops supporters are keen for the treble winners to make a permanent move for the 20-year-old touchline terror.
Now, according to the English media, talks are said to be at an advanced stage between Celtic and City over a contract.
The Etihad giants splashed £12million to sign Roberts from Fulham in the summer of 2015, but it appears the Parkhead men are only willing to pay around £5million for the England Under-20 international.
Pep Guardiola, though, is keen to offload as many as 12 players this summer and Roberts may be among them as the City gaffer prepares to spend record amounts of cash after last season’s disappointing campaign.
Celtic could fund a deal using money from a sell-on clause inserted in the contract when they picked up £13million when Virgil van Dijk moved to Southampton.
The central defender is on the verge of a move to Guardiola’s outfit for around £60million which could bring in something in the region of £7million.
Celtic had numerous players out on loan last season who will be returning to the club. Already Nadir Ciftci and Scott Allan have been told that they are free to find other clubs. Others will probably be in a similar position.
How many, if any, of these returning from loan players have a chance of getting anywhere near the Celtic first team?
Maybe only Ryan Chrsitie and the best he could hope for is a place on the bench. Celtic want to keep him but are prepared to loan him to Aberdeen for next season as part of the deal to sign Jonny Hayes.
So if you think about the prospects of a player returning to Celtic getting new the team, then use the same logic at Manchester City, then even if they wanted to keep Roberts, it is unlikely to be a prospect the player would relish.
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