Matt O’Riley, 23, has attracted significant attention from European clubs this summer, with Atalanta leading the chase. The Italian side has already made four bids for the Celtic midfielder, demonstrating their strong interest.
In addition to Atalanta, other prominent European clubs also show interest in O’Riley. Brighton and Chelsea are both keen on acquiring the Denmark international, reflecting his growing reputation in the football world.
Despite the surge of interest, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has emphasized that the club isn’t under any pressure to sell O’Riley and remains committed to keeping the talented midfielder at Celtic for the foreseeable future.
Sky Italy reports that Atalanta is getting ready to make a fifth offer for Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley
On Saturday, Sky Sports News reported that Celtic turned down Atalanta’s fourth offer, which was £20 million. The club, known as the Hoops, decided not to accept the Serie A team’s bid.
Atalanta has been trying to sign the Denmark player for over a month. They previously offered £14 million, £14.3 million, and £15 million, but Celtic turned down all these offers.
Brighton is also discussing a deal with the Scottish Premiership champions for O’Riley, while Chelsea and several other clubs are showing interest in him.
O’Riley had an outstanding season last year, scoring 19 goals and providing 18 assists in 49 appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ team. His impressive performances earned him recognition and solidified his reputation as a critical player for Celtic.
He maintained this excellent form into the new season, significantly impacting Celtic’s Scottish Premiership opener. During their commanding 4-0 win over Kilmarnock last weekend, O’Riley played a crucial role by setting up the second goal. This contribution further showcased his influence and ability to make a difference on the field.
Celtic’s contract with the 23-year-old midfielder runs until 2027. Earlier this year, the club turned down a £20 million offer from Atletico Madrid, showing their commitment to keeping him.
Rodgers: Value the player rather than the league he plays in
Rodgers warned interested clubs that Celtic would not sell O’Riley cheaply this summer. He has made it clear that Celtic is firm on their stance and expects a substantial offer for the midfielder. The club values O’Riley highly and is willing to let him go with receiving an appropriate price.
“There are obviously bids that will come in for Matt O’Riley, but, I repeat, there is no need for us to sell, and we don’t want to sell,” he said to Sky Sports News.
“If there’s an offer that comes in that fits the valuation of the player then that’s a different matter.”
“Until that moment, I’m fairly relaxed because he’s training really well, working really hard, and until that changes, we just continue focused on performing.”
“The challenge for teams coming to a club like Celtic is they sometimes can place their value on the league and not the player.”
“What’s important for me is if a player does leave here, they pay the value for the player, and that isn’t something that always happens.”
“No player will leave here unless it’s for the right valuation, and at this moment in time, there’s been no team that’s been anywhere near that.”
When does the summer transfer window officially close?
The 2024 summer transfer window will close on August 30. In the Premier League, the deadline is 11 p.m. UK time, and in Scotland, it is 11:30 p.m.
The Premier League has adjusted its Deadline Day to align with other major European leagues. Officials decided this schedule after discussing it with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France.
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