Manchester United has been given the sum they must pay to sign one of its long-term goals.
Celtic are reportedly preparing to seek a Scottish record transfer price for midfielder Matt O’Riley this summer. The playmaker has been extensively linked with a departure from Celtic Park this summer, with many Premier League clubs keeping a close eye on his status.
O’Riley has dazzled so far this season, scoring 13 goals and assisting 11 in 31 Scottish Premier League games, and his skills have been recognised around Europe. In the January transfer window, Atletico Madrid made a bid for the 23-year-old, but Brendan Rodgers’ side turned it down.
Atletico wanted to take O’Riley on a loan with an option to buy worth £18 million, but Celtic refused to part ways with any of their top players midway through the season. However, the Hornets are expecting new bids for their No. 33 this summer.
According to The Mirror, Atletico Madrid are set to’revive’ their interest in O’Riley once the season is over, with Inter Milan and Girona also keeping a close eye on the ex-MK Dons star.
Several Premier League clubs are rumoured to be interested in O’Riley, with Manchester United monitoring’ the midfielder since 2022. Celtic, however, are unwilling to let their playmaker go cheaply.
The Scottish giants will want a sum of up to £25 million to part ways with O’Riley, making him the SPFL’s record transfer sale. Celtic previously sold Kieran Tierney to Arsenal and Jota to Al-Ittihad for £25 million, but they hope to surpass that price this summer.
O’Riley will be keen to put his head down and finish his time with Celtic on a good note, having previously admitted that transfer talk influenced him in the weeks following the January transfer window’s closure. The former Fulham star explained: “If I’m being completely honest, the first two or three games after the transfer window mentally it was a slight challenge because I felt somewhat a bit of added pressure on my shoulders, just slightly. But then I realised I didn’t really know why I was putting extra pressure on myself.
“I didn’t really need to change anything. I kind of came away from that and focused on what I bring to the team. It clicked back into place again. Each season, regardless of it going well, it will still pose a different challenge. Of course, bids are great but it could still potentially be a negative thing if you don’t see it from the right way as well so another thing to learn going forwards.”
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