Come in Number Seven your time is now

The following might well prove upsetting to the assembled ranks of the stenographers and to The People.

It is yet another Celtic good news story.

Yes, yes I know that is not how it is meant to be.

However, those are the facts on the ground…

An impeccably placed source has told me that around two weeks ago Celtic sought the view of Manchester City on Patrick Roberts.

In public Brendan Rodgers has been his usual impeccable self when he has been asked about the on loan player.

Of course, it will come down to the numbers.

Just like the loan deal there are three parties to satisfy.

The proposed fee for Paddy would be £6.8m rising to £8m.

As part of that deal Manchester City would get a 25% flat sell on clause.

That just might clinch the deal.

If the sale goes through then the Hoops will have a new Number Seven.

44 thoughts on “Come in Number Seven your time is now”

  1. Gotta say, Paddy Roberts looked like a Celtic player from the moment Ronnie brought him in and he’s come on leaps and bounds already under Brendan.

    That’s two games now he’s been chasing a hat trick, which I thought it was to sign off with a last hurrah for the fans, but now I hink it was to convince Brendan to keep him!

    Go on, wee man, stay on where you’re loved, you’ll make our already brilliant year even better.

    And you might just make yourself into a bona fide Celtic legend in the process.

    Jeez, man, I’m choking up jist thinking aboot it.

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  2. The thing is if he opts for a lesser EPL side the reality is that they’re shutting up shop most weeks and not a lot of them on the front foot like we always are. Paddys blessed with many things but playing left wing back and blistering pace ain’t two of them! Needs to be in an attacking team.

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  3. Hi if it was me I would. chase the money like any of our Celtic players in the past did – we cannot be selfish and. stand in the way of a players future

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  4. In the media Rodgers has been clever and avoided talking up Roberts and making the obvious comparisons with Raheem Sterling and when asked about him tends to focus more on their being room for improvement.

    This tells me Rodgers thinks we have a chance of keeping him and the lack of exposure to scouts at the Under 20 World Cup could be another positive for Celtic going into the negotiations in the summer.

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  5. I live in Viewpark and started going to games in 1967 through 9 in a row had the odd libation in the Noggin with the wee guy then wondered how the hell he could drink like that and run amok next day. HH

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  6. It would be great if we could get wee Paddy as our own player on a contract but I can’t see it happening. If you think about it logically, MC paid £12m for him. After the way he’s played for us in English terms let’s just say he’s worth £15m now. Half the EPL clubs would take him and that kind of dough is pocket money to even the bottom clubs. Why would MC let him go for £6.8m when they could get more for him? He’d be a peripheral player for MC cos they’re in the market for players a class above so he’ll definitely be on the move you’d think. Also, what would we pay him in wages? Say £25k a week tops. He’d be offered £40k a week at a mediocre EPL outfit. The only way we can get wee Paddy is if the money doesn’t matter to MC or Paddy. If he wants medals and trophies and a crack at the CL each season he should stick with us (if it’s even an option) but if money’s his driver or if he wants to be closer to his family again he could sign for a London club and be on big bucks. I hope he values his bromance with KT more! ?? Would love the wee man to sign but can’t see it happening

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    • Man City only paid a fraction of that reported £12m , the rest was made up of add ons dependent on appearances which if he doesn’t make for City then they will never need to pay.
      from what I have heard the up front payment to Fulham was more around £4m

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  7. the big question is…..

    does Paddy want to be at Celtic.?

    well, the fact he chose the hoops over engerland in the youth world cup finals says a lot…

    i think the bhoy wants it, Brendan defo wants it so get it done Celtic

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  8. If City do accept any offer it would ultimately come down to what Paddy wants;
    does he want to stay a couple of years more?
    and;
    higher wages?

    The wages we pay could always be a deal breaker, but if we get rid of a few duds and give him their wages – problem solved!

    Hope a deal is done…

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  9. He’s superb with just the left peg.Imagine what he’ll be like when he is coached and practices on developing his right?GFT

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  10. As I’ve said to s few boys in the boozer; this is a no brainer, sign him up & then qualify for champions league & his fee is paid for, & then the money we get from big vvd covers oor expense on signing wee Paddy, the only thing is does he himself want to play here in this league HH☘☘

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  11. The finance gain from VVD surely wouldn’t have been budgeted for so this would fund the biggest part of any fee for Paddy. His weekly wage might be a problem though.

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  12. I am hoping Man City go for Van Dijk and Celtic could use the sell on fee to part pay his transfer. Fingers crossed. Would love to see him here on a permanent basis. HH

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  13. If he stays fit, and we play him every week like as he deserves to… He should be the first name in the team sheet imo… Outstanding signing, just hope he loves being here as much as we live having him.. HH

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  14. Man C. certainly don’t need the £6.8M to £8M, and they know that other EPL and CL clubs would be happy to pay Paddy’s entire wages plus a sizeable fee to get him on loan, or even pay a larger transfer fee up front immediately, to sign him permanently.

    I don’t think he’d get a *regular* starting place in any of the top six EPL teams or the top CL teams, but he’d walk on to any mid-to-low-end EPL/CL team who’ll pay £8M for even an average player — and Paddy’s a game-changer who can’t even see average in his rear-view mirror.

    So in the end, it comes down to Man C. making a decision as to whether to (1) keep him on their books while he continues to develop further elsewhere. Or (2) whether he will continue to develop sufficiently on another loan with Celtic, or (3) Man C accept about £8m from Celtic now and maybe say another £5m when he’s sold on. Or (4) Sell him to Celtic now with the option of a Man C buy back at a fixed price for the next 2-3 years.

    Keep in mind that Man C. don’t owe Celtic any favours, though. But if there was some type of amicable agreement involving first crack at say, Dembele or Tierney when they leave…….?

    Paddy has a say in the matter too, of course. Like Sinclair, he seems very happy here, and he knows he’s worshipped by the fans. He also knows he’s practically guaranteed a 1st team place as well as exposure in the shop window of CL football, at least for next season and very probably for a few seasons after that, if he wants to extend the loan or sign permanently with the Bhoys.

    I know I’m keeping my fingers crossed…..

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  15. Defo has to be deal done! After last night’s display by Paddy Celtic need to go all out to get him. ????

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  16. Pay 10-12 million without sell on clause. This guy will be a £25-35m player in a couple of years. Absolute class!!

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    • My information is that if the transfer does go through then it will be the 25% flat sell on clause that will close the deal.

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      • I hope your spot on Phil & I have no doubt you are, the boys came on heaps & improved vastly under Brendan Rodgers, this would be the best signing for Celtic Fans & give us a great chance if qualifying for the CL, I think paddy will have his say in things if he does sign, like be a starter every week,, hopefully we will all find out soon,, cheers & keep up the good work Phil ?

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  17. Patrick has become an integral part of the team and brings the ability to open up defences with his pace and trickery.
    The appeal of the EPL is of course huge and wages might be a factor but if Patrick thinks he is a fans favourite at the moment he could achieve hero status by pledging the next couple of years to the Hoops.

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  18. Pay up the money. As 67 year old Celtic supporter he is the the nearest I’ve seen since Jinky God Rest Him. Give him the No7. Hail Hail. Paddy.

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    • I’m 50 next month never saw Jinky play “live”but every time I see Paddy jinking down the wing I think he’s been reincarnated

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      • I seen Jinky play over a dozen times in our 9 In A Row season and had those feeling reawakened watching Paddy Roberts steal the entire show last night.

        A phenomenal talent, tailor made for Celtic, and I felt like that 6 year old kid in the old Celtic End once again, watching Jinky, big Billy, Bobby Lennox etc run around the hallowed turf.

        I hope your source has this one right, Phil, because I haven’t been this buzzed about a player since Henrik in his prime.

        Hail Hail, Paddy Roberts!

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  19. Paddy bhoy is as we all know a fantastic talent but let’s be honest he isn’t a big enough name for the likes of Man City going back there shows the bhoys ambition sure enough but he would struggle to be on the bench I think he will sign for us he will have European football and really put himself in the shop window HH??

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  20. I am praying that Celtic buy Paddy as he would be a fabulous buy for Brendan and it would show the supporters that the club has the same wavelength as our great manager to improve for Europe. Hail Hail

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