Celtic‘s young midfield star Patrick Roberts has gone back to his parent club Manchester City after two successive seasons in Scotland where he helped Brendan Rodgers achieve the ‘double-treble’. The 21-year-old made 78 appearances for them in the last two campaigns and went back with a healthy tally of 18 goals and 26 assists.
After such impressive displays, there were sure to be some contenders who would have wanted to sign him and if the latest reports are to be believed, then Leicester City are set to land the player. They value the player at £10m and that could be acceptable for the Citizens.
This will come as a body blow for Rodgers and he acknowledged the fact that he will need to bring in replacements for him. He said,” We know we need to strengthen. We lost Stuart Armstrong and Patrick Roberts who were really influential players for us in all the years I have been here. We need to at least replace that and if we can also add to the squad. There is always speculation and rumour around players coming here or players leaving the club. You just have to stay concentrated, that will be a club decision in the end whatever happens.”
With Roberts likely to move to Leicester, we look at three possible options Rodgers can consider to replace him.
Robert Snodgrass
The experienced Scottish international can be a good option to have for Rodgers as he looks to continue his dominance in the Scottish Premiership. He spent last season on loan with Aston Villa where he almost helped them qualify to the Premier League. Snodgrass also happens to be a Celtic fan.
He had earlier said,” The first thing I remember was going up to Celtic Park to watch Celtic, feeling the full effect of the stadium. When you see the players on the park for the first time, you get sucked in and it’s like a dream, I trained at Celtic when I was a kid. I used to train at Rangers as well. I wore my Celtic shorts underneath my Rangers shorts when I trained there!”
Mason Mount
The Chelsea winger can also be a like for like replacement for Roberts. Last season he was on loan with Eredivisie outfit Vitesse Arnhem where he managed a healthy return of 8 goals and 9 assists. Maybe the Hoops can make a loan move for him in the transfer window.
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The Bhoys can get another Manchester City ace to replace their outgoing one as Brahim Diaz seems to have all the facets to his game which will make him a star in the Scottish Premiership. The 18-year-old has been waiting in the wings to get regular playing opportunities and maybe Pep Guardiola might let him leave in the summer on a loan move to Celtic Park.
