The defender is reportedly likely to sign a new contract with Manchester City but Celtic could help him take the next step in his career?
The cynics will still claim that Manchester City’s signing of a then-17-year-old Patrick Roberts was more heavily influenced by the need to tick the ‘homegrown quota’ than the teenager’s footballing talents.
Yet, via an 18-month loan stint at Celtic, Roberts has given Pep Guardiola another reason to scratch his head. And with The Telegraph claiming that City are still in negotiations over a new deal for talented yet seldom-seen centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo, perhaps the Catalan should trust Brendan Rodgers to raise another of the club’s most talented teenagers.
Roberts offered his parent club the most emphatic reminder of his talents with a superb individual goal against City in the Champions League group stage this season, prompting Guardiola to remark that a decision on the winger’s future would be made at the end of the season, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
Meanwhile, from one youngster to another, The Telegraph claims that Guardiola is attempting to tie down Adarabioyo to a new deal with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, a factor that has piqued the interest of Celtic, the Daily Record reports.
However, with the 19-year-old restricted to just three appearances all season, a summer move to Parkhead could benefit all parties – although on a temporary rather than permanent basis.
With doubts surrounding the long-term future of Erik Sviatchenko and age catching up with Kolo Toure, Adarabioyo would surely benefit from more regular minutes at Parkhead, not to mention gaining competitive, first-team experience and gaining a winning mentality at the perennial champions.
And, like Roberts, he could return to the Etihad with his City prospects enhanced.
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