Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has opened up about the potential of turning Patrick Roberts' loan move into a permanent deal, following the winger's impressive start to life at the club.
Roberts Hits the Ground Running
The 28-year-old, who joined on a temporary deal from Sunderland, has quickly cemented his place in Davies' starting eleven. Roberts has made a significant impact on the right wing, providing three goal contributions in his 10 appearances for Blues so far.
His recent performance in the 4-0 victory over Millwall was particularly outstanding, where he had a direct hand in three of the goals. The creative midfielder has already established himself as Birmingham's primary creative force, having set up 19 chances for his teammates in the Championship this season.
A Potential Permanent Move?
While Roberts' current deal is only a loan arrangement, circumstances could pave the way for a longer stay. The player's contract at Sunderland expires in the summer, and despite the existence of an option, the Black Cats' statement confirming his departure appeared definitive.
Roberts spent three and a half years at the Stadium of Light, playing a crucial role in Sunderland's back-to-back promotions to the Championship and subsequently the Premier League through the play-offs.
Davies' Verdict on Future Prospects
Davies, who previously worked with Roberts during their time together at Celtic, admitted that permanent transfer talks haven't been a priority yet. However, he certainly isn't ruling out the possibility.
"It's not something we've thought about or spoken about much," Davies stated. "The main thing is he's new to here, he's enjoying it, he's settling in and showing his quality."
The manager added: "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."
Davies also addressed initial concerns about loan players' commitment levels, revealing his prior knowledge of Roberts made him confident about the signing. "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."