Peter Grant believes Celtic should explore the possibility of bringing Matt O’Riley back to the club on loan, particularly if Reo Hatate departs this summer.
The former Celtic midfielder and coach spoke highly of O’Riley’s character and drive, speaking on his hunger for game time and improvement, traits which could make a Parkhead return appealing amid a frustrating spell at Brighton.
Since his move to the Premier League, O’Riley has struggled for consistent minutes, with injury setbacks and limited opportunities holding him back.
With Hatate’s future uncertain – speculation is growing that Celtic could cash in on the Japanese midfielder to maximise his value – midfield additions are firmly on the summer agenda. Lennon Miller remains on the radar, with a £4 million fee touted, but Grant believes a return for O’Riley could offer an ideal solution.
Grant, speaking on Go Radio, questioned whether the midfielder would be content remaining a fringe figure after playing such a pivotal role in Glasgow.
“I don’t think they will let him (Hatate) go cheaply, if they don’t get the right offer he won’t go.
“You are looking at Matt O’Riley’s situation, for me, can Matt O’Riley go from the hero he was at Celtic to being a bit-part with Brighton?
“He got a bad injury in his first game, he got six minutes the other night, I knew Matt as a kid, he wants to play football all the time.
“He wants to improve, he wants to get better, he wants to get in the Denmark team. He wants to do all of these things.
“The way he went about his business up here tells you the type of character he is. He never asked away, he never moaned, played every game.
“So, I am looking at it, if that situation keeps happening, would Matt be interested in a loan (return) situation, if you lose someone like Hatate?
“He knows the expectation, I would definitely ask the question, for sure.”
O’Riley’s familiarity with the club, his previous performances in the Scottish Premiership, and the potential for a Champions League return makes him a compelling option should Brighton be open to a loan. However, whether Matt O’Riley would be open to a move to the Scottish premiership does feel unlikely.
You’d imagine if he’s looking for a move away, he’d look towards the Serie A or similar.
