Patrick Roberts is scheduled to return to Manchester City from Celtic in the summer transfer window.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed to The Glasgow Evening Times that he is open to the idea of signing Patrick Roberts on a permanent contract in the summer transfer window.
Roberts is on an 18-month loan deal at Celtic at the moment, but the 20-year-old winger is scheduled to return to his parent club Manchester City in the summer transfer window.
The youngster, who cost City £12 million in transfer fees according to Sky Sports when they signed him from Fulham in the summer of 2015, has scored 13 goals in 54 appearances in all competitions for Celtic.
Rodgers has not ruled out the prospect of signing Roberts on a permanent contract in the summer transfer window.
“It is a possibility,” Rodgers told The Glasgow Evening Times about signing Roberts on a permanent contract. “I would definitely take him, there is no question about that.
“Like I say, it is about his career path. He is 19 and you would want that to continue. It certainly wouldn’t harm Pat to come here for the next two or three years, and just continue that development.”
Two problems
While Rodgers may be willing to sign Roberts on a permanent contract, there are two problems that the Celtic manager is overlooking.
The first problem is that City are unlikely to sell Roberts on the cheap. As reported by Sky Sports, the Premier League giants paid £12m for the youngster, and they would surely want at least that much. Would the Celtic chiefs be able or willing to spend £12m on a 20-year-old?
The second problem is that Roberts has not been given a proper chance at City. Pep Guardiola is known to promote young players, and maybe the former Barcelona manager would be impressed with Roberts in pre-season training.
City signed Roberts due to his potential, and they are unlikely to let him leave without giving him a fair chance to show what he is capable of.
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