Celtic may have to find a replacement for Patrick Roberts this summer if they cannot agree some kind of extension with Manchester City.
Celtic’s Scott Sinclair
When Scott Sinclair arrived at Celtic last summer, there was a sense that the winger was looking for one more chance to rebuild his career following his desperately poor year at Aston Villa.
Since then however, the 28-year-old has completely turned his fortunes around and has arguably been the player of the season across the entire Scottish Premiership.
While Villa cannot reap the benefits of Sinclair’s newly-found confidence with the former Manchester City man joining on a permanent deal, his success should perhaps convince them to seek a deal that would see one of their inconsistent squad members head to Parkhead, this time on loan.
The Hoops may have to find a replacement for Patrick Roberts this summer with the winger’s loan deal set to expire at the end of the campaign.
And if an extension cannot be agreed, then perhaps a deal for Villa prospect Jack Grealish could be the perfect move for all parties.
Jack Grealish celebrates scoring
Grealish’s talent is clear, but there is no question that he still has a lot of work to do before he can be relied upon to inspire Steve Bruce’s men on a regular basis.
The 21-year-old has scored three times and contributed two assists in the Championship this term, and some are arguably beginning to question whether he will ever hit the heights that he threatened to find when he initially burst onto the scene.
However, having watched what has happened to Sinclair in Scotland, and having seen Roberts be given a stage that may have perhaps given him a better chance of making an impact at the Etihad Stadium when he does return, the idea of moving to Celtic should surely appeal to him.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
And given what Rodgers has done for the likes of Sinclair, James Forrest and Stuart Armstrong, there is no reason why the Northern Irishman’s coaching prowess could not bring the best out of the extremely talented Grealish.
And while Villa will miss out on the chance to enjoy the rewards from Sinclair’s resurgence, it could certainly be argued that letting Grealish get some confidence back by leaving on loan and playing in a side that is dominating the domestic game right now could be the best thing for Villa to do if they hope to see him become the match-winning talisman he has threatened to be.
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