Having come through the youth Academy ranks at English Premier League side Fulham, Matt O’Riley really made a name for himself at lower division side MK Dons. Having been released by the Craven Cottage outfit in the summer, it was quite the turnaround for the now 23 year old, as he spent six months training with the side as a free agent, before they snapped him up in January 2021.
He had impressed them that much in his 12 months at the MK Stadium, Celtic took a big punt on him in January 2022, and paid a reported £1.5 million for him as we met the release fee they had built into his contract. The twice capped senior Denmark international has not really looked back since making the move to Parkhead. He now has over 150 starting appearances to his name in the middle of the pitch, and just over 100 of those has come during his time with the Hoops. He is also closing in on 40 career goals, and licensed football betting sites have long held potential odds on him making a departure this summer given how strongly he has featured on the summer transfer window rumour mill. Those odds will have likely changed again now given the plethora of clubs that are being linked with having a concrete interest in him.
When it comes to the media, Celtic departures can often find themselves linked with South Coast side Southampton, as we have done notable deals with them in the more recent past. Stuart Armstrong, Artur Boruc, Fraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk would probably be the first four names that come to the minds of fans, but we should not forget Victor Wanyama either and there are a strong handful of other players who have made the switch south.
O’Riley is obviously being linked with them, but some other reports are now claiming that whilst the St Mary’s Stadium outfit continue to fall short of our supposed valuation on him – they have apparently put a £20 million offer on the table, and we are said to be holding out for a deal in the region of a £30 million transfer value – top flight rivals West Ham United, Everton, Brentford and even former club Fulham are now in the mix and talks with all sides are ongoing, albeit at different stages of advancement.
Having previously parted company with Portuguese winger Jota in a deal for £25 million last summer as the Saudi Arabian Pro League became a new player in European football, given O’Riley’s development and performances for us, a £30 million valuation is not totally out of kilter given the values that we have seen Premier League sides already complete this summer (and often for far less experienced players, without European or international games under their belts).
If O’Riley is to ultimately move on this summer, returning to Fulham feeling that he maybe has unfinished business at the club would be one potential pull for him as he takes a different step in his career, equally Saints manager Russell Martin would be a pull for the midfielder. He worked with O’Riley at MK Dons, and made no secret of harbouring a desire to reunite with the player whilst he was in Swansea City’s dug out, but their deal fell down and we benefited from it. Having guided Southampton back into the English top flight with a Play Off victory over Leeds United at Wembley, with increased riches at his disposal, Martin may well feel that the time is now right.
There are plenty of suitors, we will just have to see what the destination is.
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