With an aggregate 4-8 win over the two legs of the Champions League play-offs, Scottish Premiership outfit Celtic have paved their way to the group stages of the Champions League.
The Celts humiliated FC Astana in the first-leg as they secured a 5-0 win at the Celtic Park and despite the fact that the Kazakhstan based outfit reacted strongly in the second leg with their 4-3 victory over Brendan Rodgers’ men, the Hoops deserved to progress.
However, with a squad which lacks the requisite depth to ply their trade in the domestic competitions as well as in the elite club level competition in the continent, Rodgers should ensure he makes the most out of the last few days in the summer transfer window.
The Hoops have secured merely three notable signings this summer, with Jonny Hayes, Kundai Benyu and Olivier Ntcham agreeing to join Rodgers’ ranks while their arch rivals Rangers have brought in almost a dozen of new faces to the Ibrox Stadium (nothing to really worry about).
The former Liverpool boss has been so far putting a lot of faith on group cohesiveness amongst the players he worked with last season, but with congested fixtures coming up, it would make more sense if they actually beef up their arsenal.
Manchester City’s prodigy Patrick Roberts has been one of the most sought after names by the Bhoys over the summer. Roberts had thoroughly impressed for the Glasgow giants ever since his eighteen-month long loan move to Celtic in the January transfer window of 2016.
The Englishman banged 17 goals and registered 21 assists in 60 appearances across all competitions for the Glasgow giants last season and has, over the course of his loan spell, inked a good name for himself in the hearts of Celtic’s fans with his scintillating attacking prowess.
Roberts is a tricky winger with raw pace in his boots and his blistering runs terrorises opposition’s fullbacks to no end. He possesses excellent control on the ball whilst dribbling and acts like a livewire in the final third as he knits the side together with his vision, passes and artistry.
The 20-year-old winger helped Celtic in clinching the domestic treble last season and is well acclimatised to the style in Scotland. At this point, Rodgers does need a quality player and nothing could make more sense than signing someone with humungous potential and a decent experience under his belt like Roberts.
