West Ham United have entered the fray for in-demand Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley, according to a report from HITC.
The 23-year-old has become a hot property, attracting interest from several Premier League clubs. West Ham are now part of a chasing pack that includes Brentford, Everton, and Fulham. Southampton’s reported offer falls short of Celtic’s £30 million valuation.
If Celtic manage to sell O’Riley for £30 million, it would eclipse their previous record for an outgoing player.
The interest in O’Riley isn’t limited to the Premier League. European giants Atletico Madrid, Lyon, and Monaco are also reportedly monitoring the situation.
Since joining Celtic from MK Dons in 2022, O’Riley has enjoyed a phenomenal rise. He has been a key part of their trophy haul, winning six major honours, and his market value has soared accordingly.
Primarily a central midfielder, O’Riley offers versatility, also adept at playing as a holding or attacking midfielder. This adaptability combined with his impressive stats (19 goals and 18 assists in 48 appearances last season) makes him a highly desirable player.
O’Riley’s exceptional performances were recognised with a clean sweep of Celtic’s Player of the Year awards (Young Player, Players’ Player, and Overall Player).
Former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers heaped praise on O’Riley, highlighting his consistency, work ethic, and commitment to the team.
A move to England seems likely for the London-born O’Riley, but West Ham face an uphill battle to secure his signature with several other clubs vying for his services.
I really hope with Tim being the pearl diver etc that we would get players like him before he gets to Celtic. By getting him from the Dons before anyone else. Time will tell I guess.
How will they replace him if their greed for profit gets the better of them. There is absolutely no need for Celtic to sell O’Riley this year, it would be catastrophic for their Champions League hopes.