NEIL LENNON is set to sign Manchester City’s highly-rated winger Brandon Barker on a season long loan deal that mirrors the deal Celtic may be about to strike to bring Patrick Roberts back to Parkhead for the season.
Whether Barker or Roberts arrives first remains to be seen. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers hoped to announce the Roberts deal before last night’s Champions League qualifier against Astana which the Scottish Champions won 5-0.
That all but guarantees Celtic access to the Champions League Group Stages, where they could be placed in Pot 3, and will make the chances of City agreeing a loan deal for Roberts more likely.
Celtic are also interested in a permanent deal for the player and may be encouraged to pursue this option with added enthusiasm give the £30million of guaranteed Champions League income that is just around the corner and will surely be confirmed next Tuesday evening when Astana host Rodgers’ rampant side.
Indeed every other Scottish Premiership side stands to gain £250,000 each by Celtic reaching the group stages and it looks like Lennon will find this revenue particularly useful as he concludes a Roberts-like deal of his own with Manchester City.
Brandon Barker is expected at the Easter Road within the next 24 hours and is expected to undergo a medical.
The 20 year-old has made one appearance for Manchester City in a 5-1 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea in 2016 and he spent last season on loan at Dutch club NAC Breda, where he won promotion to the Eredivisie.
The exciting left winger also had a loan spell at Rotherham in season 2015/16.
Barker’s arrival at Easter Road would increase further the feel good factor surrounding the club following an impressive summer in the transfer market and a stunning victory at Ibrox on Saturday.
