In a recent tweet by @SkySportsLyall, it has been revealed that Celtic’s Matt O’Riley, who was crowned the club’s Player of the Year last season, is attracting interest from a host of top European clubs, including Italian Roma.
The Danish midfielder has been a revelation for the Hoops, finishing the season with a remarkable 17 league goals and 13 assists, earning him the prestigious Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and Players’ Player of the Year awards at the end-of-season awards.
O’Riley’s outstanding performances have not gone unnoticed, with several Premier League clubs and a German club who qualified for the Champions League also keeping tabs on the talented midfielder according to Lyall. It wasAtletico Madrid who seemed to be leading the race for his signature, having previously expressed their interest in the player during the January transfer window but perhaps others are stealing a match on them.
The La Liga side reportedly had an offer of around €20 million rejected by Celtic, who were keen on holding onto their star player and for good reason, helping the bhoys to a double. The Scottish champions’ stance on O’Riley’s future remains firm, with the club setting a high valuation for the 23-year-old. It is believed that any potential suitors would need to pay a fee in excess of £25 million to secure his services, breaking the clubs transfer record.
Despite the rumours, O’Riley has not been swayed, with reports suggesting that he is very cool about the whole situation. He’s not agitating for a move but he would be open to the right one.
Speculation surrounding O’Riley’s future is likely to intensify. However, Celtic fans can take solace in the fact that their club is in a strong position whatever happens. With Champions League football on the horizon, the Hoops will be hoping to build on their success and mount a serious challenge in Europe’s elite competition.
Celtic will want to make sure they have a replacement for Matt should he go, that’s easier said than done.
