Roberts loan deal makes sense for now
THERE is a time and a place to splash the cash.
For Celtic, it is neither here nor now. Reports that the Bhoys had agreed a record £8m fee with Manchester City to buy Patrick Roberts on a permanent basis made me sit up and take notice.
My first thought was that I was impressed with the Celts’ ambition.
But after a wee bit of reflection, I’m glad City boss Pep Guardiola put the kibosh on it – because there’s no point chucking money at an impossible dream.
Just look at Celtic’s Champions League group.
The insane wealth of Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain means the top two positions are effectively already decided.
The only question is which one tops the group and which one finishes second.
Celtic dropping a club record fee on Patrick Roberts wouldn’t have made the slightest bit of difference.
A win at home, and a draw in Belgium gives the Hoops a great chance
The best Brendan Rodgers could have hoped for would still have been a third place finish, and a spot in the Europa League after Christmas.
So getting Roberts on loan is the best outcome for all parties.
Bhoys boss Brendan will never admit that – and with good reason.
He knows the scale of the club he manages. He knows its history. He understands the demands that come with the job.
But I can tell it like it is – the games against Anderlecht are the real big ones for Celtic.
A win at home and a draw in Belgium will give the Hoops a great chance of finishing third.
Those clashes will be a fair fight. They will be scraps Celtic can win.
But is that really worth pushing the boat out for in the transfer market? For me, the answer is: No. Celtic have been very shrewd in their
wheeling and dealing over the last few years.
They have turned a healthy profit on a number of players – and they’ve got cash in the bank.
But it will only be worth turfing a big chunk out when there is a real chance of Champions League progression.
The Bhoys will win the Premiership at a canter this year, just like last year.
In fact, they’ve got every chance of claiming another domestic Treble.
As good a player as Patrick Roberts is – and let’s be clear, I’m a huge fan – his arrival is irrelevant in that respect. Wee Paddy is a Champions League man. The problem is this year is unlikely to be his – or Celtic’s – year.
There is just too much money being thrown around at the top levels of football these days.
Bayern Munich and PSG are two of the richest clubs in the world.
Should Celtic be expected to compete with that? Not a chance. They operate on a different planet.
Both of those clubs could take £ 8m and spend it on anyone or anything without noticing. Celtic cannot – and should not. So as glad as I am to see Patrick Roberts back in the Hoops, I’m just as glad Celtic’s hard-earned wad is still intact. This is not the season to peel off a few notes. To put it simply, the Bhoys simply didn’t get the draw.