Celtic should go all out and move for Patrick Roberts this summer

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Celtic are set for a big summer off the pitch, and one of the biggest priorities has to be signing Patrick Roberts from Manchester City.

The Englishman, of course, spent two-and-a-half years at Parkhead, scoring 18 goals in 79 appearances. Injury struck him hard in his second loan spell in Glasgow, and fans never seen the best of him despite arriving to much fanfare.

Roberts’ deal at Man City still has another year to run. It would be a surprise, however, if they would rather keep him for a year than receive some sort of fee for the winger.

The only potential downside is that Roberts has been impressive in spells for Girona this season. The Englishman is on loan in Spain, has just stepped up his recovery from another injury that kept him out of the Girona squad for three months.

So far this season he’s only made 14 appearances, but his latest was a 1-0 win over Barcelona. That result was just last night, and meant that Girona won the Supercopa de Catalunya.

Roberts’ first trophy

It was Roberts’ first trophy since leaving England for Spain, and he started the contest too.

Girona have also expressed a willingness to keep Roberts beyond his current loan deal. Therefore, it looks as though the former Fulham starlet has made enough of an impression.

Celtic, however, need to ask the question of the £12m man. He’ll be entering the final year of his City deal, and he represents a level of quality we don’t have in the squad at the moment.

Maryan Shved will be coming in from Karpaty Lviv, and Lewis Morgan will come back from Sunderland too. But that shouldn’t mean Celtic rule out a move for a player as talented as Roberts if it’s feasible.

The initial concern has to be who else he’s been interesting with his performances in Spain. Decent outings against the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid aren’t the kind of displays that go unnoticed.

But Celtic should have a decent transfer kitty of their own. The club once again reached the latter stages of the Europa League this season, and raked in nearly £20million for Moussa Dembele in the summer.

Asking the question of City is a must. If it’s a no, then so be it, but a club like ours can’t allow talent like Roberts to just wander past us without making an attempt to nab him.