Alan Hutton saw Louie Barry up close and personal when he was coming through at Aston Villa and reckons Celtic could be landing another Patrick Roberts.
The Hoops are set to test Villa’s resolve over young winger Barry who impressed on loan at Stockport County in the first half of the season. The 21-year-old is viewed as a bright prospect and Brendan Rodgers sees him as the perfect foil to bolster his forward line.
Former Scotland defender Hutton retired in 2019 just as Barry was starting to rise through the youth ranks and show his potential. And speaking to Premier Sports, he reckons Rodgers could be landing his next Roberts – who he plucked from Manchester City and turned into a Celtic superstar. Hutton said: “He was a young boy (when I saw him). I think he is a lot like Patrick Roberts. That type of mould. I’m not saying he is the exact same. But technically very gifted.
He will get on the ball and make things happen. He is still a young boy. He went through a lot in his young career already. He has been out on loan and different things. I think Aston Villa will want to have another look at him under Unai Emery to see if they want to keep him or not.
“But I think it’s a player who has massive potential, so if he comes up here and flourishes in this environment, then it will stand him in good stead. He gives you something different. You look at the wingers they have, the likes of Maeda. Pace. Kuhn coming in from the right and going onto his left.
“I think he gives you a bit of something else. He likes to find pockets of space. He likes to get shots off and can play number 10. I think it will give Brendan different options than he has.”
Elsewhere, reported Celtic target Bazoumana Toure is said to be on Jose Mourinho’s wishlist at Fenerbahce. The 18-year-old winger enjoyed a breakthrough season with top-flight Swedish club Hammerby last year, scoring nine goals and claiming four assists in 23 league games.
The Ivory Coast U20 international is attracting plenty of interest, with Celtic and Brighton said to be keeping tabs. And Turkish outlet NTVSpor now claim that Istanbul boss Mourinho has told his transfer chiefs to work on deals for Toure, Monaco left back Kassoum Ouattara and Brondy’s Clement Bischoff. Hammarby are said to be holding out for £10million for the starlet, which would be one of the highest transfer sums ever received by an Allsvenskan club.