Celtic are reported to have turned down a £10m offer for Matt O’Riley from Leeds United.
It is difficult to work out who would be benefiting from the offer other than keeping Leeds fans sweet that their club is showing ambition.
Celtic aren’t short of funds even though the board do like to build up the Balance Sheet while a move to the Championship isn’t a step forward in O’Riley’s career path.
A hefty wage rise would no doubt be on offer at Elland Road but negotiations with Celtic on his current deal which runs until 2026 could bring a similar outcome.
UPDATE: Celtic have rejected a £10m bid from Leeds United for midfielder Matt O’Riley.
The Scottish champions have reiterated to Leeds that they consider him not for sale.
(w/@SkySportsLyall & @SkySports_Tim) #LUFC https://t.co/pMrFyDsRwf
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) August 31, 2023
O’Riley made the move from League One MK Dons to Celtic in January 2022, picking up a Man of the Match award in his debut away to Hearts.
A week later he played like a veteran in a 3-0 Glasgow Derby success which cemented his partnership with Reo Hatate that drove Celtic on to win the SPFL title and a Champions League slot.
O’Riley quit Fulham to take a sideways step to MK Dons to get the matches and experience that he required after his career stalled at Craven Cottage despite being an England youth internationalist.
At Celtic he earned Danish u-21 recognition but it seems like the 2022 World Cup Finals came a year too early.
A move on from Celtic next summer would seem a real possibility but it would surely be to an EPL club on the back of two and a half seasons in the SPFL.
Until the transfer window closes on Friday night clubs will always be vulnerable but with their current injury issues and being without Jota, Aaron Mooy and Carl Starfelt Celtic can ill afford losing any more of last season’s key figures.
