It's done - Reliable journalist delivers massive Celtic transfer news

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Published on:

28 Aug 2017, 10:57 am

By Harry Sykes

Celtic have finalised the return of Patrick Roberts for a second spell, according to a reliable journalist.

Glasgow Evening Times correspondent Alison McConnell reported on her personal Twitter account on Monday evening that the Scottish giants have signed Roberts on a season-long loan.

McConnell claimed the long-running transfer saga has now ended as the deal has been "done" by Celtic.

Celtic fans? It's done. Paddy Roberts back for the season.
— Alison McConnell (@alibali76) August 28, 2017

Her update suggests that Celtic will imminently announce that Roberts has completed the formalities of a deal that will be regarded as a huge boost to the team's trophy hopes.

It was reported by the Mail earlier today that Brendan Rodgers' side have beaten off competition from Nice and Premier League pair Southampton and Huddersfield to capture the winger after agreeing to pay "a significant loan fee" to City, who signed him from Fulham in the summer of 2015 for £12million.

England Under-20 international Roberts made a huge impression for Celtic during an 18-month loan that ended in June.

The front man, who is renowned for his skill and trickery from out wide, completed a haul of 11 goals and 19 assists from 47 league and cup appearances that was crucial to the club's treble-winning campaign last season.

Roberts is set to become the fourth Celtic signing of the summer, following Jonny Hayes, Olivier Ntcham and Kundai Benyu.

Football Insider verdict:

It has been a long time coming, but Roberts is worth the wait. He showed during his first loan spell, which stretched to 18 months, that he is one of the outstanding young wingers in England. And the exciting thing for the Celtic faithful is he is only going to get better. Rodgers has an impressive record of developing young players, and Roberts firmly belongs in the category of unpolished diamonds. He has the potential to not only tear up the Scottish league this season, but also bruise a few top-notch opponents in Europe. What a signing.

In other Celtic transfer news, the club have agreed to sell a defender to a top-flight club.

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Patrick Roberts