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Could Celtic Break The Transfer Record To Make Our Loan Bhoy A Permanent Deal?

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There’s a tasty wee story circulating today that one of the reasons Celtic are said to be in talks with Manchester City isn’t so much about bringing a top player from there on loan – although that’s most definitely on the agenda – but the opening negotiations to make the guy we’ve already got on loan into a permanent feature with the club.

Patrick Roberts is a phenomenally talented kid. He may be the most skilful footballer in Scotland, and that Manchester City were willing to pay such big money for him shows, some say, that he is considered a future star and thereby out of our reach.

I’ve heard it before. Look at our new guy Scott Sinclair, who got big money moves to both City and Chelsea. They both allowed him to go out on loan, and his potential was never properly realised. It will be at Celtic Park, where he’ll play every week.

Just because Roberts was purchased for big money, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s destined for first team football at the Etihad. Furthermore, all this talk of how he was signed for £12 million is actually pretty misleading; he was actually signed for around £7 million plus add-ons, which are all dependent on first team appearances, international caps and other things.

The truth is, he’ll probably have left Manchester City before reaching some of the criteria, so that extra £5 million may well never actually be paid. There will be a sell-on clause, and that will net Fulham some extra cash, but I doubt they’ll ever actually get the full amount.

If we’re going to grab Patrick Roberts the optimum time for doing so would be before he returns to City at the end of his loan. It’s as near certain as anything can be that he’ll be shipped out to another club within a short time. If that club’s in England and they like the look of him they immediately become favourites for his signature. I’m under no illusions about our ability to compete financially with a team in the EPL or even in the Championship.

The player seems to “get” Celtic; that’s always a major plus.

He can’t help but be excited about playing under Brendan Rodgers, and that too gives us a shot. To sign this kid would almost certainly require the breaking of the club transfer record, but he’s young enough that it’s a long term investment and value for money is guaranteed.

Roberts really looks as if he will be a top footballer, but in the cash rich EPL, with fans and the media constantly slobbering over foreign imports and the Sky Sports Transfer Cash Count getting higher even year – this is going to be the first ever £1 billion window – young players are increasingly finding their chances limited and, perversely, this seems to afflict young English footballers more adversely than others, with John Stones being a notable exception.

Roberts might be available, and he might not be.

But if we’re going to break the transfer record on anyone right now I would prefer it be him.

Discussions are being had with City, and rumours suggest this is one of the matters under consideration.

What do you all think of the idea?

In Brendan We Trust.

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