Matt O’Riley has found himself at the centre of a whirlwind of speculation, with a host of clubs eager to secure the talented midfielder’s services. Yet, despite the flurry of interest, no club has quite hit the mark on Celtic’s valuation of the player, which is understood to be north of £25 million.

The latest development in this saga comes from Italian outlet Alfredoperulla, which reports that Premier League side Brighton have tabled a bid that meets Celtic’s asking price—a £25 million offer, sweetened with an additional £4 million in potential add-ons. The report, interestingly, is framed from the perspective of Serie A’s Atalanta, who’ve already seen their lower bids for O’Riley swiftly rejected by the Scottish champions.

Whether there’s substance to these latest claims remains to be seen, but it’s clear that O’Riley’s future at Celtic Park is hanging in the balance. Many Hoops supporters have already started to brace themselves for the prospect of losing the midfielder this summer, especially given his standout performances over the last year and a half. Matt won the player of the year, players player of the year and young player of the year last season. If the deal goes through, it could see Celtic cash in yet again, potentially adding another significant sum to the club’s coffers.

However, the focus must also turn to how the Bhoys would replace such an influential figure. The arrival of Paulo Bernardo has sparked some debate, but it’s widely felt among the Hoops support that he isn’t the man to fill O’Riley’s boots. Should O’Riley make his departure, the pressure will be on Celtic to bring in a player of similar calibre to maintain their momentum in both domestic and European campaigns.