Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported the news that Europa League holders Atalanta, who have already had three bids rejected by Celtic, have returned with a fourth bid this evening.
Romano references Matteo Moretto who posted details on the third Atalanta offer which this time is worth €23m, while acknowledging that this is still €5m short of Celtic’s asking price. This evening’s updates also recognise Brighton’s strong interest in signing the Celtic midfielder.
What is clear from Celtic’s point of view is that no deal will be tolerated that fails to meet Celtic’s asking price, so the Italian side who last season won silverware for the first time since the early 1960s, will likely be reminded of the asking price for the THIRD time in recent weeks.
There are rumours that Matt O’Riley is not sold on Brighton as his next destination as he aspires to playing Champions League football. He can get that at Celtic or indeed Atalanta but the latter opportunity will only emerge if the Italian side finally understands that Celtic will NOT sell for less than €28m.
At his media conference yesterday, which The Celtic Star attended, Brendan Rodgers had this to say about Matt O’Riley and the ongoing transfer speculation.
“For the likes of Matt, he’s been fantastic. People might say ‘Do you have to be not nice to get a move’ and that’s not the case. He’s a good guy, his training is exemplary and if a club meets the valuation that the club thinks he is worth and can go then that will happen. I repeat, the value of the players will have to be matched before the club can consider it.
“We don’t want Matt to go, first and foremost. We know the club’s model and how it works, but there’s no rush to move Matt. We would love him to stay here and be here. I can see it in himself – he’s really happy. If you have the chance to change the conditions in your life and a club makes an offer that is of great value, then you have to look at it. There always needs to be that contingency in place, for sure.”
So that should have been clear enough for Atalanta, Brighton and any other club with an interest in signing Matt O’Riley.
⚫️🔵 Atalanta sent new bid to Celtic for Matt O’Riley worth €23m.
Celtic insist on asking €28m fee for O’Riley.
Brighton also remain keen on signing the midfielder.@MatteMoretto 🤝🏻 pic.twitter.com/10OySBydi4
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 10, 2024
L’Atalanta rilancia per Matt O’Riley e offre 23 milioni di euro al Celtic.
Il club scozzese ne chiede 28.
Su Matt O’Riley c’è anche la forte concorrenza del Brighton.
— Matteo Moretto (@MatteMoretto) August 10, 2024
Teams are starting to get closer to our asking price now?
Still believe that our asking price will be met by the closer to the window imo?
Yet there is a fair chance that the club who mets the asking price, that Oreily doesn’t fancy the move to the actual club?
Might be unlikely with the amount of money involved, but you never know?
Regardless, still believe that the club has to have identified the potential replacement, regardless of what the outcome of the Oreily transfer imo?
Still looking like there is a place within our squad for another midfield addition at present, and that’s even with Oreily currently within our squad imo?