Hoops midfielder Callum McGregor believes that Patrick Roberts will give Celtic fresh impetus as the Parkhead side prepare for a stint at the Champions League.
The long running saga of Roberts returning to Celtic is expected to conclude imminently with Brendan Rodgers’ side in the final stages of formalising a loan deal for the player.
It has been a summer long pursuit of the England under-20 internationalist who made his feelings clear to Manchester City that it was a return to Celtic that was his own desire this season.
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Talks were still ongoing last night but it is understood that the player was in Glasgow with his father yesterday as Celtic moved to complete the move. A medical is expected today.
The Hoops have paid a sizeable loan fee for the player and will also shoulder a sisgnifcant percentage of his salary.
Brendan Rodgers has made no secret of his desire to get the winger back into the club following a successful 18-month loan spell and the player will require little time in acclimatising to the club.
His parent club, Manchester City, were driving the player to stay in England with Southampton and Huddersfield keen on Roberts, while Nice and Genoa were also on the radar.
It was Roberts himself who was the architect of the decision to go back to Celtic for another stint, with the player digging his heels in to the City hierarchy about where he wished to play his football this term.
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And for McGregor a successful move for Roberts would be a massive lift.
“I do think Patrick has got something special and it says a lot that it was at Celtic that he wanted to come back to,” he said.
“Obviously as players we don’t know what is going on behind the scenes but I have spoken to him a few times over the summer and I know his feelings for Celtic. He really would be a massive addition again to the squad, especially as we look towards the Champions League.
“He knows us and knows what the club is about and on the big European nights he is a player who can come in and make a difference. He has that bit of quality about him and that is always a boost for us.
“It helps as well that we know he can hit the ground running which will be massive given the games that we have got coming up.”
Meanwhile, Celtic are still on the hunt for a central defender after a deal for Rivaldo Coatezee fell through.
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The South African failed a medical with an issue over his foot with his agent insisting that the player will receive “world-class treatment” now as he looks to get back to fitness. It could be that Celtic revisit a deal for the player in January but at the minute they require a player who can go straight into the team.
Injuries to Dedryck Boyata, Erik Sviatchenko and Jozo Simunovic have laid bare the lack of defensive cover in the backline and an additional defender has been sought.
The Parkhead side were linked with 32-year-old Slovakian captain Martin Skrtel, although there appears little substance to the reports.
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