Recent reports suggest that Manchester City are willing to let Patrick Roberts leave on a free transfer this summer, which will bring an end to a nightmare spell at the Etihad.

What's the word?

According to Sky Sports (via SI), City are willing to let the 24-year-old winger leave for nothing, with as many as 11 clubs interested in signing him before the transfer deadline.

The Citizens paid £12m to sign him from Fulham in 2015 but they clearly haven't seen enough development from the Englishman in the past six years and feel that now is the right time to get him off the wage bill permanently, after spending the last few seasons out on loan.

Txiki disaster?

Roberts looked to have a bright future at City when he impressed on loan at Celtic, contributing 18 goals and 26 assists in 78 appearances for the Hoops between 2015 and 2018.

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Incidentally, one of those goals came against his parent club in a 1-1 draw in the Champions League, which led Pep Guardiola to sing his praises, saying:

"He has potential. I am so happy with his performance.

"We are going to talk about his future at the end of the season. We know his quality but the decision is not about one game. It is for one season."

Brendan Rodgers, who was in charge of Celtic at the time, also dubbed him a "top young English talent" but he clearly hasn't done enough to prove he deserved a chance at City under Guardiola, with just three senior appearances to his name.

Recent seasons have seen Roberts struggle at the likes of Girona, Norwich City, Middlesbrough and Derby County, with just two goals to his name in those loan spells, so it seems clear that he isn't good enough for Manchester City's first-team.

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At just 24, with one year on his contract remaining, you feel that City could still command a fee for Roberts, but it seems as if they are desperate to be rid of him. That suggests that it proved to be a disastrous decision by Txiki to sign him for £12m in 2015.

And, in other news... Txiki should seal Man City swoop for "outstanding" star after ex-player claim