“Celtic Eye ‘Next Patrick Roberts’ in £10M Transfer Battle with Mourinho’s Roma!”

Alan Hutton has compared young Aston Villa winger Louie Barry to former Celtic star Patrick Roberts, suggesting the 21-year-old could be a major coup for the Hoops. Barry, who impressed on loan at Stockport County earlier this season, is reportedly on Brendan Rodgers’ radar as the Celtic boss seeks to strengthen his attacking options. Barry is seen as a technically gifted player with the potential to make a significant impact, and Rodgers could be the perfect manager to unlock his talents.

Hutton, who retired in 2019 just as Barry was making waves in Villa’s youth ranks, reflected on the winger’s potential during an interview with Premier Sports. He described Barry as a player with similar traits to Roberts, who thrived at Celtic after joining on loan from Manchester City. Hutton noted: *”He’s technically very gifted, someone who can get on the ball and make things happen. He’s still young but has been through a lot already, including loan spells, which have helped him grow. If he flourishes at Celtic, it could be a perfect environment for him to reach his potential.”*

Rodgers reportedly values Barry for his ability to play across the forward line, including as a No. 10, and believes his skillset will complement the pacey, direct styles of players like Daizen Maeda and Yang Hyun-jun. Celtic’s interest in Barry comes amid competition from Aston Villa, who may want to assess his development further under Unai Emery before making a final decision.

Meanwhile, Celtic are also linked with another rising star in Bazoumana Toure, an 18-year-old winger from Hammarby who is attracting widespread attention. The Ivory Coast U20 international had a breakthrough season in Sweden’s top flight, scoring nine goals and providing four assists in 23 games. Toure’s performances have reportedly caught the eye of clubs including Celtic, Brighton, and even Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce. Turkish outlet NTVSpor claims Mourinho has instructed his club to prioritize a move for Toure, alongside Monaco’s Kassoum Ouattara and Brondby’s Clement Bischoff.

Hammarby are said to be holding out for a £10 million fee for Toure, a potential record-breaking sum for an Allsvenskan transfer. While Celtic may face stiff competition from Mourinho’s side, Brendan Rodgers could see Toure as another exciting addition to his squad. Both Barry and Toure would provide Rodgers with versatile attacking options and bolster Celtic’s chances of success domestically and in Europe.