It’s only a matter of time before Matt O’Riley is confirmed as a new Brighton and Hove Albion player.
The Dane was yesterday pictured on a flight down south to complete a move which will shatter the Scottish transfer record.
There has been vast transfer interest in O’Riley for the past six months, with clubs such as Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, and Southampton all linked with his services. It was the Seagulls, though, who eventually shelled out a deal with Celtic.
Former Hoops striker Chris Sutton, though, isn’t convinced the south coast is the right destination for O’Riley.
Indeed, he believes the 23-year-old doesn’t need another stepping stone move, and that he could go straight to a top-six team in England.
“It’s been assumed his move to Brighton is inevitable but is it the best place for him? I’m not so sure about that one either”, he said (RecordSport).
“O’Riley has the ability to go to the very top and you suspect Brighton won’t be his last port of call. I don’t think he needs a stepping stone move though. It’s not completely out of the question for a player to go directly to a top-six club.
“Kieran Tierney went straight from Parkhead to Arsenal and I can’t see why O’Riley can’t tread a similar path after another year of performing in the Champions League.”
While Brighton looks like a positive move on paper for O’Riley, he could easily slot into a bigger team.
Celtic’s Player of the Year from 2024/25, though, has a smart head on his shoulders and never gets too ahead of himself.
O’Riley will play for a huge club one day, with his new team only the next step in his journey to the top of football.
