Celtic’s move for Patrick Roberts is on rails now.
We’re edging close to a deal that will shatter our transfer record and, after add-ons, might even come close to the ludicrous sum that Rangers once paid for Tore Andre Flo. I always thought that deal would never be upped in Scotland. I might well be wrong.
We’ve talked a lot about Patrick on this site, and it seems that the consensus amongst our fans is now pretty near universal; if this deal can be done we should get it done. Brendan and the board appear to agree; they have tagged Patrick as the marquee signing we’ve all been crying out for, and when you watch his performances you can see why.
For the first time in years, Celtic are on the cusp of bringing a truly generational talent to this club, and it’s exciting. It will, of course, depend on what Patrick wants to do, but if Manchester City don’t guarantee that he’ll be in the squad then I think he’ll choose Celtic Park.
He knows this club, what it’s about, what it strives for, and he loves being part of it.
The fee is reputedly around £7 million – Phil claims it’s £6.8 million – with substantial add-ons and a sell on fee which would net City a further 25% of a future fee. This is big money. Our record at the moment is £6 million for Sutton and Hartson, with Lenny close behind.
It has never been important that we break our transfer record; it’s a symbolic thing more than anything else. But Brendan has talked about a couple of times since he took over and the idea of it doesn’t faze him or scare the board. The £5 million bonus we’re set to recoup from Chelsea’s expected purchase of Virgil Van Dijk will go some of the way towards offsetting the cost of this deal, and in fact I’m told that’s a driving factor in it.
It also means that Brendan’s larger transfer budget remains virtually unspent.
Part of the incentive for Patrick, aside from what will be an outstanding salary, bonuses, the chance to play Champions League football, to appear in front of 60,000 fans every week and to win more trophies, will be the chance to take on the mantle of some of the greatest players ever to play in the Hoops, by assuming the talismanic number 7.
Who wears the number 7 jersey at Celtic right now?
Do most of us know?
It is, of course, on loan Nadir Ciftci. Some of the magic connected to that shirt has faded of late; amongst others who’ve worn it with less than distinction are Juninhio, Freddie Ljungberg and Miku Fedor. Others have worn it well, but never quite did it justice; Scott McDonald and Zurawski amongst them. Apart from Robbie Keane, who had the Wow Factor, since the King of Kings left it has never been worn by a player who truly looks up to the task.
All that will change if Patrick Roberts agrees to sign. He will be the first footballer at our club since the departure of Henrik who genuinely excites us. He will restore the magic to the most famous number at Celtic Park.
I’m told that City cannot guarantee Patrick games in the next campaign. The feeling is that they would be amendable to a deal if the price is right, and that’s the case here.
They’re impressed by how well he’s done here but with the typical arrogance of the EPL they see achievement in Scotland as unconvincing.
Added to that, Patrick is not a Guardiola signing. He has his own ideas about what he wants to bring to the team. Indeed, Patrick’s problem may well be reflected in the one facing Ryan Christie, who I wrote about last week. If Patrick signs, young Christie may well find the road in front of him is just too difficult to traverse, although I hope he stays and fights.
But on the idea of Patrick Roberts pulling on the Hoops for another few seasons all of us are agreed. He is an outstanding talent, one who will go right to the top of the game. And that’s something we can use to sell him on the idea of this; his time will come. It might not be at City but a move back to the EPL is certainly in his future. Celtic can give him the grandstand on which to become the player he clearly has the potential to be … and all the while he’ll be winning things.
This is a no-lose for everyone involved. City recoups what it paid, and probably with a hefty profit by the time re-sale values are toted up. Celtic gets one of the UK’s outstanding talents for several more years and Brendan gets a marquee player in a key position.
Yes it’s expensive, but the money is there to make it work.
All that remains now is to wait.
But this one is very much alive.