With one match to be played before the transfer window closes Matt O’Riley remains a Celtic player.
Brendan Rodgers seems genuinely in the dark about the future of the midfielder, even in these cynical times there seems nothing to suggest that O’Riley is agitating for a move that would land him a substantial pay rise and a more challenging environment that the SPFL.
Not many clubs can offer constant Champions League football through until the end of the year, with all of the major leagues underway it could well be that O’Riley is content where he is with a third Champions League campaign on the horizon, three years ago he was playing in League One with MK Dons.
Currently Celtic have a midfield trio that is miles superior to anything else in Scotland, so impressive that recent signing Paulo Bernardo is reduced to 20 minute run outs off the bench.
Whether the combination of O’Riley, Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor can match up to the opposition waiting in the Champions League is very much up for debate but every Celtic fan would love to see O’Riley hang around for a third shot at the elite competition.
Asked if O’Riley would still be a Celtic player after the window closed Rodgers gave an honest assessment of the player’s position:
I don’t know is the honest answer. You see with him that he is an incredibly talented player.
There is a value we have for him, and if that’s not met he will be here – it’s as simple as that. He is really happy here, but it has to be something that draws him away.
I am not overthinking it. We all know the model here at Celtic – players will improve and they will get to a level that get beyond, not the club, but in terms of the financial salary. But until that comes we continue to work with him.
If O’Riley is sold it will leave a big hole in the Celtic midfield that £25m won’t fill.
The first match after the transfer window closes is the September 1 Glasgow Derby with the opening Champions League match a fortnight later.
Having O’Riley around for that campaign would be a massive boost, the other option could leave Rodgers fire fighting with the Irishman admitting in his Premier Sports interview that his squad doesn’t yet have the depth to go in strong to a schedule of two matches per week.
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1 Comment
by Johnno
Looking more likely that Rodgers will construct his 25man squad in the same manner as last season now imo?
That still means that there is possibly 1 midfield position available at present, to complete the 7 that will possibly be in Rodgers finalised 25man squad?
Still think McGowan will possibly take a midfield position, especially as we still haven’t filled our 8 homegrown quota yet?
Still believe another midfield player will be added along with McGowan?
It is still uncertain as whether such a player will be looked upon as a potential replacement for Oreily, or even replacing Holm within the squad?
Somehow, I don’t see ourselves looking at 3 potential midfield players at this stage of the window imo?
Keeping hold of Oreily would be a massive boost for ourselves, yet getting in addition midfield players might not be as simple, especially when a lack of game time on offer within our midfield areas?
Especially regarding the quality issue Rodgers is on about?