Celtic have made a new approach to take Patrick Roberts back to Scotland, but this time on a permanent basis, TEAMtalk can reveal.
The Bhoys are looking to take their former loan star back to Celtic Park, although Manchester City are yet to decide his long-term future, we understand.
City paid more than £12million to secure his future from Fulham in 2015, but he has featured just three times for the club during that time, having spent the majority of his time on loan elsewhere.
City still have Roberts under contract to 2022 and were ready to extend that deal by another 12 months to see if he can be a success for them, which is why, we understand, they have rebuffed Celtic’s offer for now.
However, the Bhoys’ bid – which we understand is in the region of £3million – has been left on the table should City change their mind.
Injuries have curtailed Roberts’s progress in recent years and that was highlighted by his current loan stint at Middlesbrough, where he impressed hugely before being ruled out for much of the rest of the season through injury.
Boro would love the chance to take him back on loan, but City would rather he gets top-flight experience – ideally in England, but if not he may have to go abroad next season.
Roberts spent the first half of the 2019/20 season loan at Norwich, but the arrangement was cut short after Roberts played just four times.
During his previous three seasons on loan at Celtic, the winger scored 18 times in 79 appearances and proved a popular player among their supporters, who would no doubt welcome his return on a permanent basis.