The Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is being linked with a raid on his former club, Swansea City.
Celtic are the latest club linked with a move for the Swansea City right-back Connor Roberts [Daily Express].
The Wales international is out of contract at the end of this season, but unlike Swansea colleagues Jay Fulton, Joe Rodon and Matt Grimes, he has yet to commit his future to the Liberty Stadium.
So do Celtic have a chance at securing Roberts’ signature? HITC takes a look…
His manager doesn’t think so
Speaking to Wales Online earlier this month Swansea boss, Graham Potter, suggested that Roberts’ new deal was as good as done.
“As far as I know it is going well and not too far away,” he explained.
“It’s crossing the Ts and dotting the Is. You don’t want to discuss too much publicly as some happen quickly and others not as they have to know it is right for them and their families.
“I’m not worried, it’s part of the process and Connor is happy here. He’s enjoying his football here and sees his future here. It’s about making sure everything is right for both parties.”
But Roberts himself has been somewhat more evasive
11 days later and Roberts’ contract remains unsigned. Speaking to the same newspaper at the start of last week, he said: “I’ve got to keep on performing well on the pitch for club and country, that’s my job.
“I’ve got representatives who will support me off the pitch. That’s their job to sort that out for me. At the moment I just concentrate on playing well, whether it be for club or country.”
So what happens next?
Swansea have around six weeks to tie things up, after which Roberts will enter the final six months of his deal and be free to discuss a pre-contract deal elsewhere.
But with the Welsh side having returned to promotion contention in recent weeks, it is possible the 23-year-old could wait until their fate is more conclusive before he puts pen to paper.
If Roberts is to leave then Swansea will no doubt favour a domestic move, with clubs outside of England and Wales – i.e. Celtic – required to pay a significantly smaller amount in compensation.
Could Roberts quit Swansea for Celtic?
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