Celtic Rejects Fourth Bid from Atalanta for Matt O'Riley: Latest Transfer News

Celtic Reject Fourth Bid from Atalanta for Midfielder Matt O'Riley

In an ongoing saga of transfer negotiations, Celtic FC has turned down Atalanta's fourth offer of £20 million for midfielder Matt O'Riley. The Serie A club has been pursuing the talented Denmark international for over a month, having previously seen three bids of £14 million, £14.3 million, and £15 million rejected by the Scottish Premiership champions.

Brighton and Other Clubs Interested

As the transfer window heats up, Brighton has also entered the scene, holding discussions with Celtic regarding O'Riley. In addition to Atalanta and Brighton, top clubs including Chelsea have shown interest in the young midfielder, who had an impressive outing last season.

O'Riley's Performance Overview

Last season, O'Riley showcased his skills by scoring 19 goals and providing 18 assists in 49 appearances for Celtic, helping the team maintain its competitive edge. Recently, he contributed to Celtic's 4-0 victory against Kilmarnock, setting up one of the goals in their Scottish Premiership opener.

Contractual Situation and Manager's Stance

The 23-year-old midfielder is under contract with Celtic until 2027. In fact, this isn’t the first time that Celtic has rejected a substantial offer for O'Riley; they turned down a £20 million bid from Atletico Madrid in January.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has made it clear that the club values O'Riley highly and is not desperate to sell. In his comments to Sky Sports News, 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." He emphasized that a suitable valuation for O'Riley would be necessary for any departure.

Understanding Player Valuation

Rodgers highlighted the challenge that clubs face when placing a value on players based solely on their league. He remarked, "The challenge for teams coming to a club like Celtic is they sometimes can place their value on the league and not the player. What's important for me is if a player does leave here, they pay the value for the player, and that isn't something that always happens." He asserted that there haven't been any offers nearing O'Riley's true value as of yet.

Transfer Window Timeline

For fans and clubs alike, it is essential to keep track of the transfer window. The 2024 summer transfer window officially closes on August 30 at 11 PM UK time for the Premier League, and 11:30 PM in Scotland. This year, Deadline Day has been moved up in alignment with other major European leagues, following discussions among the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France.

Conclusion

As the summer transfer window progresses, it remains to be seen where O'Riley will end up. With multiple clubs vying for his talent, Celtic will undoubtedly continue to assess the market for a suitable offer. Fans will have to wait and see how this captivating transfer story unfolds.

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