West Ham and Leicester have both recently been credited with interest in Celtic’s Manchester City loanee.
Even despite being laid up with injury, Celtic star Patrick Roberts appears to be slipping further from their grasp for next season.
The winger is on loan from Manchester City, where his path to the first team has been blocked over the past few seasons.
Interest is growing in Roberts’ services, with West Ham the latest club claimed to be interested in the England youth international.
Both clubs can afford to blow Celtic out of the water financially, especially considering West Ham made an offer of £25 million for midfielder Joe Allen in the transfer window [Stoke Sentinel].
Celtic came close to tying up a deal for Roberts last summer for just £8 million, and their failure to get that over the line appears like it will be costly.
The Daily Record reported Pep Guardiola could not be persuaded to part with the winger permanently, but perhaps Celtic could have tried to sweeten the deal by offering a buy-back clause as Leicester did with Kelechi Iheanacho.
Last summer Roberts was on a high at Celtic, as part of their invincible team, but this year the feel good factor has dimmed ever so slightly, and he has seen himself replaced as he sits on the sidelines nursing an injury.
A fresh start in the Premier League is likely to appeal to Roberts, and the interest of Leicester and West Ham may only be the beginning of a long queue of clubs who will want to sign him.
Last summer may just have been Celtic’s only window to get the deal done and their failure to do so appears like it will be costly.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
