The Daily Record is claiming that Matt O’Riley is happy and settled at Celtic.
Since the start of the season the midfielder has been the outstanding player in the Celtic side, impressing in the Champions League and picking up his first full cap for Denmark.
In two years at Celtic O’Riley has made incredible progress, so much so that it would be a surprise if he sees out the bulk of his contract which was upgraded in September to run through until 2027.
It would be a shock if clubs from the major leagues weren’t looking at O’Riley, on Friday Sky Sports claimed that there was serious interest in the 23-year-old from Inter Milan.
Celtic fans are looking for significant investment in the January transfer window, the last thing that is needed is to lose another starter after the summer exits of Jota, Aaron Mooy and Carl Starfelt.
Picking up on the Italian interest, transfer specialist Scott Burns of the Daily Record reports:
Inter Milan will be given short shrift if they firm up their interest in Celtic star Matt O’Riley.
It was revealed at the end of last week that the Serie A leaders had the Hoops midfielder high on their January radar. The Italian giant is considering making a move that would be a loan for the season with an eight figure obligation to buy in the summer. Celtic aren’t actively looking to sell and recently signed up the Danish international on a new long-term contract.
Record Sport also understand that although O’Riley is aware of the interest he is currently settled and happy to remain at Celtic Park. The Celtic board are also more interested in strengthening their squad than selling their prize assets. The Hoops are currently in a title fight with Rangers and they are looking to keep Brendan Rodgers’ side clear at the top of the Premiership.
Celtic fans will be hoping that O’Riley can add to his nine goals for the season when the hoops take on Dundee today.
Everyone has their price but MO’R’s should be a high one and the “loan with obligation to buy” might be appropriate for someone warming the bench but hardly for a guaranteed starter who is your top scorer from midfield! You could buy a number of players to improve areas of the team with the cash that could be realised by selling MO’R and sometimes you do have to sell your prize asset to rebuild e.g. Lennon selling McGeady to the Russians to fund his big revamp. Difference this time of course is that we are well enough financed that we don’t need to sell anybody we don’t want to, and we should only be offloading those who aren’t likely to push for a starting berth.
Wait…. You don’t think this is paper talk intended to unsettle one of our best players ahead of a vital derby, do you?! What could possibly motivate hacks to do things like that?
Ha!
Yes the only thing that’s missing before the derby game:
“Rangers [sic] interested in buying O’Riley in shock move!”
A stable mind game tactic, normally applied in the run up to key, European ties.
Except, even the SMSM copy/pasters know that even they can’t spin
it to their readers that sevco has two pennies to rub together. 🙂
Another expected piece of BS in the SMSM this week:
Clement will publicly demand that the match officials on Saturday
are ‘strong’ – and protect his players from any rough play.
And that is just the set up for CFC to receive at least 1 red card…?
And that my friend is the whole purpose of the exercise ….disruption and disquiet made by scoops towards the Celtic preparations ! If in doubt …create doubt ! That’ll be the tabloid’s mantra until the end of the season !
Of course MOR will leave, and for big bucks, but not before the summer?
Separately, now that Jim Ratcliffe has acquired 25% of ManU,
and is supposedly in control of the football operations,
[no idea how that’s going to work?],
then ten Hag’s position must be looking unsafe.
Arguably, he’s only remained in post pending Ratcliffe’s deal completion?
So, would BR even get a mention as a possible target for ManU
by the English MSM?
If BR is totally ignored, could that be further validation that whilst
he was highly regarded to secure the LFC role, his stock has since peaked,
and he won’t get a sniff of a top 6 EPL club again?
He did do well at LCFC initially, but ultimately got them relegated.
My point is: BR is not the same guy we had previously.
He now looks like a very average manager, who looks short on ideas,
and unable / unwilling to – promptly – mix up tactics / formations during losing games…?
No, it’s even simpler – Man Utd appointing a former Liverpool manager in unthinkable – it’d be like us appointing Walter Smith. It just won’t happen. Man Utd are said to be casting envious eyes at another former Celtic manager though…. and it ain’t Neil Lennon!
Probably right, but then again Rafa did manage both LFC and Everton?
Just curious to see if BR is even mentioned as ‘a long shot’?