Newcastle United and West Ham United have been named amongst a number of Premier League clubs considering a move for Celtic star Matt O’Riley.
The two-times capped Denmark international has been an overwhelming success since he joined the Hoops from MK Dons in a £1.25m deal during the January 2022 transfer window and has gone on to score 27 goals and provide 34 assists in 121 appearances for the Hoops. His form played a key role in helping Celtic claim successive Premiership titles but has also provoked significant interest from club across the Premier League and around Europe.
O’Riley opened up on the speculation as he spoke to Sky Sports in the aftermath of Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title celebrations in May, saying: “That’s a tough question. Yeah, it would be very difficult (to walk away from Celtic). I have said before, the club means a lot to me now. I think right from day one, I fell in love with the club because the fans are so crazy and passionate, you know, it’s a proper family. Yeah, one more game to focus on and I will take it from there.”
That came less than a week after Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers insisted he was under no pressure to sell a player that was the subject of a failed bid from Atletico Madrid in January and has also been linked with Serie A champions Inter in recent months.
“We don’t have to sell. We are not in a position to do that,” explained the former Liverpool and Leicester City manager. “But of course, if there is something that comes in then, like it happens at Celtic, it will always be looked at. There is not a need to sell. Matt has had an absolutely brilliant season for us and it is great testament to his professionalism and how he has developed as a football player. Then naturally, those players will attract attention. If you have done well, and done well at a club of this status and pressure then naturally the attention will come. But it is not something I lose sleep about.”
However, Football Insider have now claimed Rodgers and Celtic may well face a decision over O’Riley’s future after they revealed both Newcastle and West Ham are both ‘keen to add’ the midfielder to their squad this summer.
Interest is set to mount throughout the next two months as Chelsea, Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton are also said to be interested in O’Riley. A move to the latter would see the Danish international reunited with his former MK Dons manager Russell Martin at St Marys Stadium and the Saints are now said to be ‘preparing a bid’ for the former Fulham academy graduate as they look to steal a march on their rivals for his signature. However, the report also reveals Celtic are ready to ‘hold out for at least £25m’ before they will consider allowing their prize asset to leave the club.
