Sunderland U21s won 7-1 in Europe with Dennis Cirkin, Dan Neil and Luke O’Nien in the side
Sunderland loanee Patrick Roberts has established himself as a key presence for Birmingham City this season
Birmingham City boss Chris Davies has delivered a vague verdict on whether or not his side will look to sign Sunderland loanee Patrick Roberts on a permanent basis at the end of his temporary stint in the Midlands.
The winger left the Stadium of Light for St. Andrew’s in the latter stages of the summer transfer window, and has wasted little time in endearing himself to supporters, with two assists and a goal across his first 10 Championship outings, as well as a series of typically influential displays from out on the right flank.
As things stand, Roberts’ contract with his parent club is set to expire at the end of the current campaign, although Sunderland do retain the option of extending his deal by a further year if they see fit. From there, the Black Cats would then be in a position to make a decision on whether they looked to reintegrate Roberts into their first team plans, or if they would instead aim to cash in on him.
What has Birmingham City boss Chris Davies said about the prospect of signing Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts on a permanent basis?
And should Roberts ultimately come to leave Sunderland in the summer, Davies has not ruled out the prospect of him joining Birmingham permanently. When asked about the possibility of signing the 28-year-old in a recent press conference, he said: “It’s not something we’ve thought about or spoken about much. The main thing is he’s new to here, he’s enjoying it, he’s settling in and showing his quality. As long as his form continues like it is, and he continues to enjoy it here, who knows where that can go in the future.
“When you bring a player on loan, you’re never quite sure because they’re not your player. Will they have that sort of commitment? Having known him previously, I was sure that he would add to our group, and he’s done that so far.”
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What else has been said about Patrick Roberts’ Birmingham City future?
Discussing Roberts in a recent interview with Football League World, pundit Don Goodman said: “I think a lot of us have been a little bit surprised about the lack of creativity that Birmingham City have shown in the opening nine games, really. So it was a good move to bring Patrick Roberts in.
“He’s not really noted for his goal scoring, but he certainly does create opportunities, so I guess the answer to should they explore a permanent deal would depend on a variety of things. I look at the way Birmingham play and the way Sunderland played last season, two very different styles.
“Birmingham [are] very possession-heavy, Sunderland happy to let the opponent have the ball and spring pretty quickly. I wonder whether that would be more to Patrick Roberts’ [style], get the best out of him. But there’s no doubt that there’s a talent there, so ultimately it would come down to what the deal would cost.”
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