FORMER Celtic fans’ favourite Patrick Roberts WAS on Ange Postecoglou’s radar in the summer.
The incoming Hoops manager was in the midst of his monumental squad rebuild while dealing with the exit of skipper Scott Brown and the imminent departures of top scorer Odsonne Edouard and internationals Kristoffer Ajer and Ryan Christie.
Postecoglou wasted no time as a DOZEN recruits – including Kyogo Furuhashi, Carl Starfelt, Josip Juranovic and Liel Abada – arrived while Filipe Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers joined on season-long loan deals.
Liam Scales, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Joe Hart and James McCarthy joined in August while the moves for Sheffield Wednesday duo Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide had already been arranged before the Greek-Australian’s appointment on June 10.
PRIZE GUY…Patrick Roberts with the Premiership title in The Invincibles’ season of 2016/17.
Wing wizard Roberts could have been part of Ange’s new-look Hoops, but the boss wasn’t convinced the player possessed “the single-mindedness” he was looking for, according to a report in The Athletic.
The entertaining touchline ace, who enjoyed a wonderful two-and-a-half year loan period in Glasgow before returning to Manchester City in 2018, was involved in five further temporary transfers before eventually leaving Pep Guardiola’s side for good in January after just one appearance in seven years.
Roberts, 25, claimed 18 goals in 78 first-team outings for the Hoops while winning seven honours.
WALKING ON AIR…Patrick Roberts celebrates a goal against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Instead of a dramatic return to Parkhead, he agreed a short-term contract with English third-tier outfit Sunderland, but will be up for grabs again in June when he becomes a free agent, as CQN reported last week.
We featured the tale of Roberts and two other of Brendan Rodgers’ Invincibles – Scott Sinclair and Leigh Griffiths – who could be looking for new clubs in a couple of months’ time.
But is it too late for Roberts to impress Postecoglou?
The answer could be found in Jota’s temporary transfer deal which expires on May 31. The Celtic gaffer is keen to keep the Benfica star and the reported option fee of £6million is hardly likely to provide an obstacle.
It could come down to personal terms for the Portuguese flyer who has very quickly become a hit with the Parkhead support.
Watch this space!
