Patrick Roberts is only on loan at Celtic from Manchester City for one season but Celtic face competition from Rangers and Swansea City for his successor.
Celtic are facing something of a catch 22 with Patrick Roberts. If the Manchester City loanee impresses, helping the Scottish champions to another domestic treble, that may only reduce the chances of Celtic being able to sign him permanently.
After all, City manager Pep Guardiola appears to rate the 20-year-old highly and was reluctant to let him return to Celtic on another loan deal this summer after Roberts spent the last 18 months honing his trade in Glasgow.
Although Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers stated that that would have been willing to shatter Celtic’s transfer record to sign Roberts this summer (Daily Record), the likelihood is that the former Fulham wonder kid will only be wearing green and white for another season.
Therefore, it makes sense for Celtic to plan for life after a player who scored 11 goals and assisted another 19 in all competitions last season.
Roberts’ replacement?
According to The Mail, St Mirren winger Lewis Morgan is a name on Celtic’s radar ahead of the January transfer window. The 20-year-old, who was the subject of a £200,000 bid from Burton Albion in the summer, is reportedly interesting Swansea City as well as Old Firm rivals Rangers, where he started his career.
Morgan is one of the brightest young talents in Scotland and has taken his fine form from last season into the new campaign with six goals to his name already. And, handily, the Scotland under-21 star will be out of contract at the end of the season and could be available on a reduced fee in January.
Therefore, it is difficult to think of a more suitable long-term replacement for Roberts. He and Morgan are both the same age and share similar skill sets, revolving around scoring from wide areas.
Morgan, like Roberts, could take his game to a new level under Rodgers.
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