Why Celtic are planning to bring the new Patrick Roberts to Parkhead

It’s starting to feel a little too familiar for those of a Celtic persuasion, with this summer window so far proving just as concerning and chaotic as a year ago.

The Champions League playoffs are looming, and yet there has been just a solitary first-team arrival at Parkhead, albeit with Camilo Duran at least looking sharp with two goals in two pre-season outings.

It’s the same old story in terms of who might come next, with links again emerging regarding long-term target, Kasper Hogh, while a return for Kyogo Furuhashi has already been mooted. Any chance of chasing someone new?

Of course, Celtic’s business should be judged in August and not right now, but there are still so many areas to address, not least on the flanks.

Why Celtic need an overhaul on the flanks this summer

It wasn’t too long ago under Ange Postecoglou that the Hoops were blessed with real depth and quality out wide, the Aussie rotating between Liel Abada, Daizen Maeda and a fully fit Jota, with the likes of James Forrest also in the mix.

In the present day, the situation couldn’t be more different, with Maeda expected to be on his way amid Premier League interest, while Jota hasn’t featured at all in over 12 months.

January loan arrival, Joel Mvuka, made only two mere cameos before Martin O’Neill decided he’d seen enough, with Michel Ange Balikwisha enduring an exile of his own, having seen his last Premiership outing come back in October.

The aforementioned Forrest has penned a contract extension, but the 35-year-old only chalked up two goals and assists in the Premiership last term, albeit while having only started three times.

Sebastian Tounekti’s own record wasn’t much better, as the Tunisian registered just four Premiership goal involvements across his 18 starts, yet to showcase he is anything more than a potential impact man.

It is only really Yang Hyun-jun who walked away with credit in the bank last term after scoring eight times en route to the title, although even then, the Korean’s overall Hoops record of 17 goals and 12 assists in 112 games isn’t the most inspiring.

The forward line, as it stands, simply won’t be taking O’Neill’s side anywhere next season, leaving the 74-year-old in a race against time to seal new additions.

Celtic working on deal to seal second summer signing

It was almost laughable what occurred in Glasgow last week, with Marcelo Saracchi taking to social media to reveal he won’t be returning to the club, despite his intention to do so.

The champions weren’t able or willing to reach what looked like an easy agreement for the Uruguayan, with the same also true of Kelechi Iheanacho, the Nigerian now pulling on the green and white of Turkish second-division side, Bursaspor.

It feels like one step back after another right now, although there is at least still reason to be optimistic, not least regarding the ongoing pursuit of Egyptian star, Haissem Hassan.

As per Sky Sports reporter, Anthony Joseph, Celtic have made an “enquiry” regarding the Real Oviedo man and are now “exploring the conditions” of a potential deal for the 24-year-old.

The World Cup sensation does only have a year left on his contract in Spain, although the indication is that he could still fetch as much as £10m.

That would be a sizeable fee for a club that have rarely invested too significantly over the last 18 months or so, although all the signs point to Hassan being a real superstar in the making.

The hope will be that he might prove a successor to Nicolas Kuhn on the right flank, yet he is perhaps actually more like another Celtic figure of the past, in the form of Patrick Roberts.

Kuhn was direct and a weapon in front of goal, yet like Roberts, Hassan is more of a dribbler and ball-carrier, someone who can twist defenders inside and out.

That was seen in Egypt’s thrilling 3-2 defeat to Argentina, with the fleet-footed winger supplying the assist for Zico to make it 2-0, after previously embarking on a mazy solo run in the build-up to his teammate’s earlier disallowed strike.

He’s a slight, speedy winger who can torment opposition full-backs, as seen in the fact that he ranked in the top 1% of wingers in Europe’s big five leagues last term for productive dribbles per 90, as well as in the top 1% for progressive carries.

Like Roberts, Hassan is a player who thrives in one-versus-one situations, someone who always wants to get the ball to feet, before cutting in to devastating effect onto his favoured left foot.

In many ways, he’s a pure entertainer, in the mould of the Englishman, albeit while perhaps truly waiting to explode in terms of his final product, having only registered three assists in LaLiga last term.

In Roberts’ case, he arrived at Celtic in 2016 as a mere teenager from Manchester City, having previously registered only two assists in 22 games at Fulham. The gamble well and truly paid off, however, as his 78 games in Glasgow yielded 44 goals and assists.

Hopefully, Hassan’s move to Parkhead could prove just as fruitful, with O’Neill’s forward line in desperate need of a new spark, particularly if Maeda is to depart.