Brighton & Hove Albion are in negotiations with Celtic regarding the transfer of their key player, Matt O’Riley, as reported by Sky Sports.
The Seagulls have a deep-rooted interest in the 23-year-old and are actively working on finalizing the deal to sign him before other clubs show interest.
O’Riley had an exceptional season in the 2023/24 year, playing a crucial role in Brighton & Hove Albion’s victory in the Scottish Premiership, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists in 37 games. He scored 37 goals in 49 matches throughout all competitions.
The Denmark international kicked off the 2024/25 season with a strong start, scoring an assist in a 4-0 victory against Kilmarnock. His impressive play has caught the eye of numerous elite teams, such as Brighton, Chelsea, and the champions of the Europa League, Atalanta.
Chelsea has become the most recent team to express interest in signing him, with reports suggesting he could take over Conor Gallagher’s position, who has recently agreed to join Atletico Madrid.
It’s also worth noting that Atletico Madrid made an offer for O’Riley in January, but the deal fell through. This summer, Atletico Madrid considered Gallagher as a replacement, and they are now in negotiations for a transfer worth £35 million.
Atalanta attempted multiple offers to Celtic, but each was rejected, with the Scottish Premiership leaders demanding £40 million for their valuable player.
Celtic’s head coach Brendan Rodgers cautioned potential buyers that they need to pay a substantial transfer fee for O’Riley.
After the Hoops secured a 4-0 victory against DC United in Washington last Sunday, Rodgers confessed he was thrilled with his demeanor, despite ongoing attention.
“It’s really been simple with Matt since he’s such an excellent professional,” he shared with Sky Sports.
The difficulty for teams joining a club like Celtic is that sometimes they focus more on the league’s prestige rather than the individual player’s worth.
“It’s clear that there are greater financial rewards in other leagues that enable players to enhance their living standards. We’re all aware of this.
“What matters to me is that if a player decides to leave, they receive a fair compensation for their talent, which isn’t always the case.
“A player will only leave if they feel they are being fairly compensated, and at the moment, no team has come close to achieving that level.”
