Why Celtic re-signing £12m Premier League starlet could turn out to be a masterstroke by Rodgers

Why Celtic must re-sign Manchester City starlet Patrick Roberts this summer

According to a report by the Sun, Patrick Roberts might return to Celtic. The promising Manchester City starlet spent the previous two-and-a-half seasons on loan with the Scottish giants.

During that time, he won several trophies and reached new heights as Brendan Rodgers’ men successfully established their dominance in Scottish football. It goes without saying that the 21-year-old quickly became a fan favourite.

As far as Pep Guardiola’s Premier League-winning team is concerned, it looks highly unlikely that Roberts would secure a spot for himself in the first-team anytime soon. The youngster usually operates as a winger and City have a few solid options in that department.

After all, the likes of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane single-handedly wreaked havoc upon their opponents last season. And now with Riyad Mahrez in the mix, it would be tough for Roberts to edge past them in the pecking order.

Hence, a move back to Celtic seems like a great option for Roberts. He has tasted glory and success with Rodgers and he clearly seems to fit the manager’s philosophy and style of play.

The fact that he hasn’t featured much in City’s pre-season exploits so far clearly indicates that his future at Etihad Stadium looks far from promising. For a player his age, he must clock regular minutes on the field since that’s the only way he can develop and hone his skills further.

With 82 appearances for Celtic under his belt, moving back to the Scottish club seems like the best move for Roberts. The Sun further claims that City are willing to listen to offers for the talented winger.

Having signed him for a fee of £12million from Fulham, the Sky Blues should expect a fee in that region. If Celtic are willing to stump up the cash to sign Roberts permanently, the deal could work out as a win-win situation for all parties involved.

With merely a year left on his contract with City, Roberts must do the smart thing and move to Celtic instead. Having played an abundance of first-team football for the Scottish outfit, it does not make sense for him to stay on as a fringe player at City for one whole season.

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Thus, this is the ideal time for him to move back to Celtic and enthral the supporters with his dazzling displays on the field.