Patrick Roberts suggests Celtic wanted to sign him permanently

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Patrick Roberts has returned to Celtic on a season-long loan deal, but the Scottish Premiership side tried to make the move a permanent one.

Patrick Roberts has suggested that Celtic attempted to sign him on a permanent basis from Manchester City before he returned to Parkhead on a season-long loan deal, STV reports.

The 20-year-old brought an end to one of the longer running rumours of the window when it was announced at the start of this week that he was returning to the Scottish Premiership for another year after an excellent 18-month loan spell that ended at the end of last season.

It was certainly a move that was met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction amongst the Bhoys fans – especially as the chances of the deal happening appeared to fluctuate on a weekly basis over the last couple of months – but Roberts has now suggested that had the Hoops had it their way, he would not be returning on loan, but rather on a permanent basis.

“Celtic wanted to sign me permanently,” he said, as reported by STV.

“City, being as they are and being my parent club, they obviously didn’t want to sell me. From that point of view it’s good for me that Pep and the team there still want to keep me and keep me involved.

“That’s good for me and also letting me come here and carry on my development with the manager and the team is good as well so they have full interest in me, which is good for me personally.”

Given Roberts’ clear quality and potential, it is undoubtedly a major statement of intent from Celtic that they tried to bring him back on a permanent basis, as, while they did not manage to do so, they would have surely been fully aware that he would not have been cheap before they even began negotiations.

And while they were unable to sign him permanently this summer, Brendan Rodgers will be hoping that if he can enjoy another successful year and City are still unable to provide him with the first-team football that he craves, then perhaps further discussions could yet be held on where his permanent future lies.