Matt O’Riley is ‘without a doubt’ ready for the Premier League, believes former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan…
Matt O’Riley has been the outstanding player in the Scottish Premiership this season, adding goals and more assists to his game as he seems to have thrived under the influence of Brendan Rodgers.
And during the last international break the English born Celtic midfielder – a £1.5m winter signing from MK Dons in January 2022 – broke into the Denmark side and has an outside chance of making the squad for the Euro2024 finals in Germany next summer.
Jota was sold for £25m last summer and that was an offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad that Celtic could not refuse and it is going to take similar money to convince Brendan Rodgers and Michael Nicholson, the Celtic CEO to part with their star-man this summer.
A few months ago transfer expert Fabrizio Romano was tweeting about O’Riley, probably aware of the increasing levels of interest in the player and well aware that Celtic knocked back a £10m bid from Leeds United last summer. That seems to have been a sensible decision as O’Riley’s valuation has soared and it would now take a bid at least as high as the sum that Al-Ittihad paid for Jota to convince Celtic to sell.
Speaking to BoyleSports who offer the latest Glasgow Derby odds, Gordon Strachan who had successful playing and managerial careers in both Scotland and England, is certain that O’Riley would be a major success in England should he decide to leave the Hoops. And Strachan puts Matt up alongside Virgil van Dijk as he considers the mark he could make in the Premier League.
“Matt O’Riley, without a shadow of doubt, can follow Virgil van Dijk and make it in the Premier League,” Gordon Strachan said. “He’s got the lot; he’s got the football IQ, he’s focused on his football, he’s fitter, he has vision and goals in his game, he’s got a good physique and I am really sure that he can play for a top side in the Premier League.”
What happens in the summer is one thing but under no circumstances would the Celtic support tolerate a January move for O’Riley, currently the best player in our team. Get the league and Scottish Cup won then there’s plenty of time to think about who is next to be sold!
🟢✨ Celtic gem Matt O’Riley, MOTM on Wednesday; having a great season with 6 goals, 4 assists as CM.
He also got Denmark NT call up 🇩🇰
Celtic, in a strong position as they just renewed his contract one month ago — it’d be a Scottish record transfer fee for any club interested. pic.twitter.com/qiwfKw0PJb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 26, 2023
