Celtic have been encouraged in their bid to re-sign Manchester City winger Patrick Roberts.

The Daily Mail says Nice were primed to table a deal of their own to take the player to the Cote D'Azur initially on a one-year loan.

However the French club moved swiftly to snare Monaco star Allan Saint-Maximin – another prodigiously talented player in Roberts' mould – to apparently kill off their interest in the Manchester City player.

Assistant manager Chris Davies spoke of his hope that Roberts could return to Celtic Park, and said: "I've seen things said about Patrick over the last few weeks, that he's been linked here and there, but I've not heard anything for definite.

"All I can say is that he was really good for us. We rate him very highly. There is a home for him here, but ultimately, he belongs to another club.

"It will be a collective decision by the player and the club as to where is best for him to go or whether he stays there."