Brighton Makes Formal Offer for Celtic's Matt O'Riley as Transfer Talks Progress

Brighton Makes Bid for Celtic's Matt O'Riley

In a significant move in the transfer market, Brighton & Hove Albion has submitted a formal bid for Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley. O'Riley, a talented 23-year-old, has caught the attention of several clubs due to his impressive performances last season.

Celtic's Response to Brighton's Offer

As of now, no agreement has been reached between Brighton and Celtic, though discussions are ongoing and are expected to continue over the coming days. This development comes after Celtic rejected multiple bids from Atalanta, with their fifth and latest offer amounting to £21.5 million, plus additional add-ons.

Continued Interest from Atalanta

Celtic has turned down five offers from Atalanta for O'Riley, indicating the club's strong valuation of the young talent. The Italian side's recent acquisition of Lazar Samardzic raises questions about whether they will pursue O'Riley further, especially with competition from clubs like Chelsea also showing interest.

O'Riley's Impressive Season

Last season, Matt O'Riley enjoyed a standout year at Celtic, contributing significantly to his team's success with:

• 19 goals
• 18 assists
• 49 appearances

In their recent Scottish Premiership opener against Kilmarnock, he further showcased his skills by setting up one of the goals in a dominant 4-0 victory.

Contract Situation

O'Riley remains under contract with Celtic until 2027, and in January, the club rejected a £20 million offer from Atletico Madrid. This reflects Celtic's firm stance on retaining their key players and their unwillingness to sell unless the valuation aligns with their expectations.

Brendan Rodgers' Stance

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has made it clear that the club does not need to sell O'Riley. He stated:

"There are obviously bids that will come in for Matt O'Riley but, I repeat, there is no need for us to sell and we don't want to sell... No player will leave here unless it's for the right valuation and at this moment in time there's been no team that's been anywhere near that."

Rodgers emphasized that clubs often misjudge the player's value based on their league rather than the individual talent and contributions made on the pitch.

The Future for O'Riley

As negotiations between Brighton and Celtic continue, it remains to be seen how much O'Riley's potential transfer will impact both clubs. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Brighton's interest might lead to a successful bid or if Celtic will continue to hold firm on their prized asset.