After January and summer transfer windows full of rumours surrounding Celtic’s player of the season, his time at Celtic Park may be coming to an end. Atletico Madrid, Brighton, Southampton, Chelsea and Juventus have all kept tabs on the Danish international, but it has seemed like Italian Europa League winners Atalanta are most likely to call trumps on the signature of the 23-year-old.
Atalanta’s negotiation tactics with Celtic may seem strange with “La Dea” having sent five unsuccessful bids to Celtic for the services of O’Riley. However, the negotiations between themselves and Juventus over their talisman are even stranger. Netherlands international Teun Koopmeiners has been trying to force a move away from Bergamo since March, when he announced he wanted to play his football beyond the summer elsewhere. After agreeing terms with “the Old Lady” five months ago, Juventus still haven’t met Atalanta’s €60 million price tag as their penultimate offer reached just €55 million. Juventus’ most recent offer has hit €59 million and may be enough to temp Gian Piero Gasperini and the Champions League club to bid farewell to their star man as his relationship with the fans that once loved him has become very ugly.
In comparison, Celtic fans can have no complaints over the professionalism and commitment of Matt O’Riley in the second half of last season, preseason and the opening two games of this Scottish Premiership season.
The completion of the sale of Koopmeiners looked likely to spark Atalanta to put the foot down, in order to strike a deal with Celtic but in a confusing 24 hours it looks like they may take their business elsewhere. On X, Fabrizio Romano said: “Atalanta met with Lazar Samardzić’s agent today, agreement close on personal terms.” Udinese midfielder, Lazar Samardzić matches a similar profile to O’Riley and offers a cheaper alternative who’s already proven in Italy’s premier division.
If Atalanta have well and truly pulled out of the O’Riley deal who could be other possible suitors? Southampton were previously priced out of a move to reunite O’Riley with former manager and Scotland international, Russell Martin. Celtic’s main financial asset worked alongside Martin at MK Dons and with the Saints needing to strengthen to avoid relegation they may come sniffing around again.
Atletico Madrid and Juventus have likely got what they needed from the window in that area of the pitch with the signings of Connor Gallagher from Chelsea and Teun Koopmeiners from Atalanta, respectively.
This would all point to Brighton being the most likely candidates despite already having spent an excess of €100 million this window. Billy Gilmour has all but completed a move to Napoli which may see new manager Fabian Hürzeler make a move for the Dane despite the two players filling slightly different roles.
By no means do Celtic need to sell Matt O’Riley this summer. There is no reason why the midfielder won’t be seen in the Hoops for another season as Celtic hold all the aces when it comes to any negotiations. O’Riley still has 3 years left on his deal at Parkhead.
If Celtic do cash in on O’Riley, where would the club go next?
Augsburg and Belgium U21 midfielder, Arne Engels has emerged as the most likely target to fill any central midfielder vacancy. Engels has enjoyed two solid seasons in Germany’s topflight after signing from Club Brugge at 18-years-old. Engels has an impressive resume and at just 20-years-old was in contention for Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad, being part of the preliminary squad which was cut. Engels looks like a ‘8’ who is more than capable at both ends of the pitch and would be a great signing for the Scottish champions despite costing easily €10 million.
Celtic are also monitoring Dundee captain and club player of the year, Luke McCowan. McCowan has received attention from clubs across Scotland’s topflight as Hibs have had three bids in the region of £700k rejected by “The Dark Blues”. Celtic could swoop in and pick up one of the league’s most promising players for just shy of £1 million although this doesn’t seem likely to be an O’Riley replacement. Odin Thiago Holm’s lacklustre Celtic career may see him out on loan to make way for Dundee’s penalty expert, which is a quality Celtic are desperately in need of.
The third and most recent candidate linked with a move to Glasgow’s East End is Switzerland U21 international, Alvyn Sanches. The Laussane Sport midfielder’s name was flying about the rumour mill earlier in the window, but his name has resurfaced amid O’Riley’s exit rumours flaring up. Sanches scored five times in the Swiss topflight last season and plays in a slightly more advanced role to Celtic’s number 33.
Celtic getting their recruitment spot on could never be more important with the financial implications of a successful Champions League campaign never greater. Celtic should demand as much money as possible for O’Riley and reinvest into a highly capable replacement who keeps the Celts’ quality midfield trio intact.
