Barnsley loan man ‘unlikely’ to return to parent club this summer, report claims
Barnsley loanee Liam Roberts is ‘unlikely’ to return to Middlesbrough this summer, as detailed in a report by The Northern Echo.
Barnsley swooped to land the goalkeeper on a temporary basis last summer.
Roberts, 29, is out of contract at the Riverside Stadium at the end of the season and is due to become a free agent in late June as things stand.
As per the Northern Echo, he isn’t expected to have a future with his parent club beyond the expiration of his current deal.
Barnsley loan man latest
Roberts has made the number one spot his own at Barnsley in this campaign.
He has made 30 appearances in all competitions for the League One side and has kept eight clean sheets.
The door could swing open for the Tykes to sign him on a permanent deal on a free transfer later this year. However, his immediate focus will be on helping Neill Collins’ men go up to the Championship.
Middlesbrough signed Roberts back in 2022 as competition and depth for their goalkeeping department.
He played four matches for them last term but has fallen down the pecking order under Michael Carrick.
The stopper rose up through the ranks at Walsall and broke into their first-team in 2017. He went on to play 149 matches for the Saddlers.
Roberts then had a year at Northampton Town before Boro came calling.
His future is up in the air right now but he isn’t in a bad position to be in after a solid spell at Barnsley to put him in the shop window if he doesn’t end up moving to Oakwell permanently.
The Tykes are back in action on Friday with a home clash against Cambridge United. They then have an away trip to Burton Albion on Monday.
