roberts

It looks as though teenage wonder kid Patrick Roberts is heading to Manchester City in a deal that could rise to £11million. Kit Symons was asked about the speculation that has appeared on Twitter today showing Roberts in Manchester, reportedly for a medical, after today pre-season match with Crawley Town.

“It’s very difficult,” stated Symons. “He’s handed in a transfer request now and he’s only got one year left on his contract. We want to keep all our best players and build for the future but there comes a point where that becomes very difficult and you have to do what’s right for the football club. It’s progressing it’s fair to say. He’s in serious talks so we’ll have to wait and see.

“It’s a shame to lose one of our bright young talents but I need to have people that are committed and want to play for the football club.

“I sat down with Pat and his parents and told them how much we value him and want him at the Club. But they’d made their minds up and it then becomes quite difficult. We did all we could to keep him but good luck to him if this is what’s going to happen. We’ll move on, this is a big Club with a lot of good players here.”

It does seem as though the club have done everything they can to keep Roberts but if an 18 year-old has decided to hand in a transfer request to push through a move then there isn’t a massive amount anyone can do about it. Manchester City will be an attractive prospect for him but I would be surprised if we saw anything of him for a number of years. Other home grown talent such as Scott Sinclair have moved to City to take the next step in their careers and it hasn’t quite been the dream that they thought it would be. It is a shame, but the Fulham Youth Academy exists to nurture talent that can go on to either represent the club or be sold on for a profit. Kit is right when we mentioned needed players who are committed and no matter how good Roberts can be, if he isn’t committed to the club then it is unfortunately better to let him leave.

I wish him well. Hopefully in a number of years he can be brightening up the Premier League but it is such a shame that Fulham fans won’t get to see him play a part in this seasons Championship campaign.

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