Manuel Pellegrini: 'Patrick Roberts could leave on loan'

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has claimed that he may allow Patrick Roberts to leave the club on loan this month.

The 18-year-old joined the Premier League side in a £12m move from Fulham last summer, but he has only played four minutes of top-flight football this season.

Bournemouth have been strongly linked with a loan move for the teenager and Pellegrini has admitted that a short-term departure could work for both parties.

"Patrick has been injured in the last two or three weeks. Now we are going to talk about his future," Pellegrini told reporters. "It was important for him to work the first part of the season here with the squad. We will see what is the best future for him in the second part.

A number of Championship clubs are also said to be interested in Roberts.