NEWLY-PROMOTED Premier League outfit Huddersfield Town want Celtic main target Paddy Roberts.
The Hoops fans’ favourite, who spent 18 months on loan at the treble-winners, is due back at Manchester City for pre-season preparations but it appears that Pep Guardiola has made a decision that he is surplus to requirements at City.
The Yorkshire side are keen to secure winger Roberts on a temporary deal as they build a team for their top-flight assault.
French Ligue 1 team Nice are also showing an interest in the exciting 20-year-old attacker who scored 11 goals and made 19 in 41 appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ six-in-a-row champions last season.
If Guardiola has indeed decided Roberts is not part of his plans, City would prefer a sale having agreed a deal worth up to £12million in add-ons when they bought Roberts from Fulham two years ago.
The Etihad giants are likely to want to recoup at least £8million in their investment. That is a better outcome for Celtic as second loan spell may see the player being pointed in a different direction as was the case with Jason Denayer who was shipped out to Turkey rather than being allowed to return to Celtic, as was his wish.
Celtic are prepared to break their transfer record to sign Roberts on a permanent deal, but if City can’t find a buyer at the right price Huddersfield Town are hoping to land him on a short-term deal.
Celtic’s Chief Executive Peter Lawwell, we understand, has been confident for a while that he will be able to reach a deal to sign Roberts but a huge factor that has to be determined is where the player would like to go.
His choices a few weeks ago seemed to be go back to City to see if he had a future there or return to Celtic where he is already a hero. This morning it looks like the City option is becoming clearer, and Roberts has a list of ten clubs to look at in Scotland, England and in Europe, before making his decision.
On the blog last night it supporters seemed to regard yesterday’s news as making Paddy’s return to Celtic less likely. However if City isn’t where his playing future lies then some other might think that Celtic’s chances have been improved considerably.
CQN has been saying for weeks that ultimately it is a decision that Paddy and his advisors have to make. Celtic and Manchester City are prepared to do a deal if the player is up for it.
Hopefully KT is on the phone again this morning…
