During the course of Thursday there seemed to be an element of inevitability that Matt O’Riley was about to become a Brighton player.
Whenever Celtic accept a big money offer for one of their players the other jigsaw pieces quickly fall into place with the transfer quickly concluded. Think Moussa Dembele, Kieran Tierney, Jeremie Frimpong, Kris Ajer, Odsonne Edouard and Jota. Blink and they are gone.
Late on Wednesday night respected Italian reporter Alfredo Pedulla claimed that a deal with Brighton was very close to agreement with the add-ons that Celtic were looking for.
Later on Stephen McGowan and Anthony Joseph simultaneously discovered that an increased offer had been made for Adam Idah that Norwich were likely to find acceptable.
Those that understand Celtic know that even with around £100m sitting in the bank it is unlikely that a sum of between £6-8m would be spent without the guarantee of a significant sum heading towards the biscuit tin.
But what if O’Riley has ambitions set slightly or a lot higher that Brighton?
What if he has confidence that he wants to play in this season’s Champions League, that he’ll ‘stick it out’ with Celtic for at least the first half of the season to have a third crack at the Champions League to remind others what they are missing?
On the long running Kerrydale Street website Pendy12 has a well established reputation for getting things right, on Wednesday night he claimed that Idah had played a blinder with Celtic and Norwich getting close to the compromise deal that both could save face over.
After last season’s first ever European campaign Brighton finished last season in 11th place in the EPL with a record of 12 wins, 12 draws and 14 defeats. Robertp de Zerbi’s departure was announced at the end of the season.
Outwardly Brighton appear to be a very well run club but appointing 31-year-old Fabien Hurzeler could put all of their progressive work at risk.
After one season managing St Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga there is no guarantee that he will be able to slot into the EPL and continue the Brighton success story.
O’Riley knows his worth and had the confidence to step ‘backwards’ from Fulham to time out followed by MK Dons to advance his career. In January 2022 he decided that Celtic under Ange Postecoglou was the platform that his career needed.
With his knowledge of the English game O’Riley might have concerns about Brighton being the next step in his career.
Under Brendan Rodgers another season or half season might suit him better, the Champions League together with a realistic chance of getting into the Danish international side might hold greater appeal that instantly multiplying his salary by three or four.
Rodgers will be asked about O’Riley ar today’s media conference, he is unlikely to give anything away but despite past evidence there may be a chance that the 23-year-old doesn’t jump at the Brighton offer leaving three more weeks of will he won’t he speculation.
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