The Daily Record and Daily Mail are speculating over Matt O’Riley quitting Celtic for Leicester City in January.
You can never say never in football but that rumoured move seems increasingly unlikely for a number of reasons.
Brendan Rodgers seems to be surviving day to day at Leicester after a summer when the brakes were put on spending.
Whether it is Rodgers or his former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard that is sacked first seems to be the biggest guessing game in the EPL with a rumoured £10m compensation pay out appearing to be all that is keeping the Irishman in his job.
Enthusiastically picking up on a report from the Daily Mail, the Daily Record adds:
The Daily Mail report the Foxes sent chief scout Sean St Ledger to watch the 21-year-old during last week’s Champions League defeat to RB Leipzig as they prepare to step up their interest.
It’s stated it’s “increasingly likely” the Denmark U-21 international may have a decision to make come January as Leicester look to spend their way out of the relegation mire. O’Riley has described Parkhead as the “ideal” place for his development and although the lure of the Premier League could tempt him, Leicester’s currently grim outlook could prompt caution in jumping ship from an environment in which he’s thriving.
O’Riley is very unlikely to see out his Celtic contract which runs until 2026 following his January move from MK Dons.
A move to the EPL seems inevitable but will likely be a very considered choice, there will almost certainly be better options available than jumping into the sinking ship facing a relegation battle under unknown management.
Matt O’Riley is a quality player there is no doubt, but imo he isn’t quite the finished article. He would be best advised to stay at Parkhead for at least to next summer and develop further. I’d stay for a further season and if Matt chooses to leave then he’d be leaving as a more cultured player.
Absolutely Gordon
This kid has his head screwed on. Took a step down the leagues to MK Dons to get first team football and has reaped the rewards for that. He is young and Celtic have given him the platform to get international recognition and a shot at Champions’ League football, which only enhances his development, his profile and his list of potential suitors further down the line.
He has already clearly shown that he is prepared to bide his time and do what’s best for his longer term career, rather than being dazzled by the first shiny, ‘fool’s gold’ bauble thrown at him by an EPL club that is likely to be plying its trade in The Championship soon.
Rumours of Newcastle interest are more worrying on that front, but would he want to risk being stuck with just playing reserve team footy again for them, which was why he left Fulham for MK Dons in the first place?
Probably more just lazy hacks wanting to write a piece to unsettle our player. Which means they can avoid writing anything about the sh1tshow across the city for a while longer, so they don’t have to risk the usual perma-raging orc hordes turning up with their torches and pitchforks as a result.
The press would love celtic to sell their best players. And ‘rangers’ to do well.
Typical daily rag always the last to know anything
The guy is just in the door with a 5yr contract has always been in the team and these eejits think he’s for sale.
Toilet paper always it’s best.!!!!!!