CELTIC are considering bringing Paddy Roberts back to the place he calls home.
Brendan Rodgers surprisingly opened up on the possibility of a third spell at Celtic for the unhappy Manchester City player.
Roberts last week broke his own silence by revealing that he had not spoken to the City manager since returning after the Treble celebrations in Glasgow in May.
He also refused to rule out a move back to Celtic Park.
The English transfer window closes in 4 days time while Scottish sides can sign players until the end of August. This presents an opportunity for Celtic to look at players who remain at clubs south of the border but are not part of their manager’s plans – exactly the category that Roberts looks like finding himself in come 9 August.
“I think Patrick is one of those players you look at and then you see what happens over the next period of time.
“He has obviously been away with Man City and he is there. Our eyes are open to lots of options.
“He was unfortunate last year because early on he sustained a really bad injury and it was then obviously difficult for him. But he is a fantastic player and we are always going to be interested in top class players,’Brendan said.
“That is maybe where the advantage will come with the window down south shutting down early.
“By that stage players will know where they are at their own clubs. So it is just a case of looking and waiting to see what happens.”
While some are speculating about a third loan spell, don’t be surprised if Celtic are more focused on completing a transfer for the player that Rodgers was so close to buying last summer.
A £10million fee was agreed and the deal only hit the rails at the eleventh hour – Pep Guardiola decided that he wanted to keep the player for the time being – and a season long loan deal was hastily arranged as a compromise.
Roberts will realise he has no future at Celtic – and has noted the complete lack of respect shown to him by a manager who stopped his move last summer then hasn’t even said a word to him on his return to the club.
A permanent transfer deal is more desirable for the player and will show Celtic’s ambition.
Hopefully we’ll have out Number 7 later this week.
