Could Manchester City’s Lukas Nmecha follow in Patrick Roberts’ Celtic footsteps?

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Both Patrick Roberts and Jason Denayer shone at Celtic on loan from Manchester City – and Lukas Nmecha could do the same.

Manager Brendan Rodgers is desperate for Celtic to be seen as something of a finishing school for some of the Premier League’s brightest prospects. And, after the success of Patrick Roberts’ 18-month stay at Parkhead, the Northern Irishman may get his wish.

“You have some of the best young players in world football (in England) and they don’t get a game,” Rodgers told the Evening Times back in May. “So if you are looking for a loan for one of your young players who, okay, might not get a game right now but could be ready in two or three years’ time, where are you going to send them?

“This is the type of club Celtic is. They are going to be educated in football and life here, train well and go back a better player. This is the environment we have here.”

Manchester City, in particular, know just how helpful a partnership with Celtic can be in giving their talented youngsters a chance to shine. After all, if Roberts had stayed at The Etihad, regular academy football and the odd EFL Cup cameo was probably the best he could have hoped for.

A year under Rodgers at Celtic, however, has transformed the 20-year-old into a more efficient, mature and experienced player.

Roberts is not the first City youngster to continue his education north of the border, Jason Denayer winning the SPFL Young Player of the Year award for a stellar season with Celtic in 2014/15.

Next in line?

And with young Lukas Nmecha rapidly outgrowing the small pond of academy football, he should be the next to follow in their footsteps. The 18-year-old striker is one of the most exciting young talents in England and has four goals in three Premier League 2 games this season, including a hat-trick off the bench against Derby County on Saturday.

With Nmecha unlikely to play first-team football for City any time soon, the Premier League leaders should consider offering the teenager to Celtic in the hope that he can make the same strides as Roberts and Denayer north of the border.

Odsonne Edouard is only on loan from PSG while Moussa Dembele’s future beyond this season remains uncertain. Nmecha, then, should be on Celtic’s radar over the next few months.