Louie Barry is in the same mould as former Celtic favourite Patrick Roberts.

That's the view of former Rangers and Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton - who delivered a glowing reference on the Celtic target. Record Sport exclusively told you Brendan Rodgers' men are ready to test the resolve of the English Premier League side by slapping in an opening seven-figure bid for the 21-year-old. He's just returned to Villa Park after spending the first half of the season on loan at Stockport Country - grabbing all the headlines and majorly impressing.

Villa have offered Barry a new deal but he has still to put pen to paper with their preference being that he extends his stay then goes out on loan to the English Championship. But Celtic are ready to make their move and Hutton is in no doubt he would improve the champions' current squad and would offer that different option Rodgers craves in his attacking third.

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Speaking on Premier Sports, Hutton said: "I think he is a lot like Patrick Roberts. I am not saying he is the exact same but in that type of mould. He's technically very gifted, will get on the ball and make things happen. He's still a young boy, but he's went through a lot in his young career already and been out on loans and different things.

"I think Aston Villa will want to take another look at him under Unai Emery and see if they want to keep him or not. But I think it is a player who has got massive potential so if he comes up here and flourishes in this environment it will stand him in good stead."

Asked if he could enhance the current Celtic squad, he added: I think so. I think he gives you something different.

"If you look at the wingers they have got at this moment in time. Daizen Maeda with the pace, Nicolas Kuhn coming in from the right going in on his left hand side. I think he just gives you a little bit of something else. He likes to find pockets of space, he turns and likes to get shots off. He can play No10 so I think it will give Brendan different options than he has."