Southampton set to smash Celtic’s transfer record in pursuit of Matt O’Riley…
It’s been reported that recently promoted EPL side Southampton are preparing to bid big to land Matt O’Riley. No exact figure has been mentioned, but it’s likely to eclipse the £25 million we received for both Kieran Tierney and Jota.
Although I’d urge a note of caution as it was reported by Daily Record, but don’t be surprised if there is some substance to it as Matt is a player who’s signature is very high in demand.
With sides such as Inter Milan, Juventus, Atalanta and Atletico Madrid also keen on Matt, it would be a bit of a surprise if he were to opt to go to the south coast of England.
But as far as the Celtic Board is concerned, cash is king, and this further demonstrates the crazy financial power that even the ‘smallest’ of English sides hold if they can outbid the European big guns.
If it were a straight choice between the sides I’m sure Matt would be heading to Italy or Spain for title challenges and European football and not mid table mediocrity at best or fighting relegation down south. But such is football, finance will often dictate where a player goes.
However Matt O’Riley is a smart guy, look at the way he opted not to sign a contract at Fulham, became a free agent and went to MK Dons with a small fee buy out clause that got him a big move to Celtic for just £1.5m. He has loved his time at our club and has had a platform to star in the Champions League and break into the Denmark side – with a change of manager the new guard will get their chance and O’Riley will be at the top of the list.
Matt doesn’t appear to be the kind of player who will make the wrong choice this summer, and incidentally he may see another year at Celtic as a viable option to make the career move that he wants for himself.
If he does indeed go this summer, the club won’t be bothered where he ends up, just as long as the cash is in the bank, with a hefty sell-on clause to boot.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
READ THIS…From Larry Henry Jr, Managing Editor – SBI Soccer reports for The Celtic Star -DC United 0-4 Celtic – Captain O’Riley at the Double as Celtic shine in Washington
OH DEAR, another English hater who loves ridiculous Scottish football, Matt will jump at playing for the mighty Saints in THE BEST LEAGUE in the world, and get away from 4th rate Scottish rubbish, joke football league. Carry on or we won’t let you continue being our feeder club!!!
Ivor, can you list the major honours Southampton FC has won? Their European finals (and remember Nottingham Forest won the European Cup twice. Has Southampton ever been in the Champions League or even the Europa League? What is your club’s biggest win over Scottish opposition? Have you seen Southampton beat Real Madrid in European Football? Or AC Milan when they were Champions of Europe? Or Barcelona and Leeds Utd and Manchester United when they were at their best? What about Inter Milan and many more too? Please do tell. Can you tell us the greatest Southampton achievements that you have watched personally?
We have played in three European finals and loads of semi-finals too. Your club is nothing, with all due respect, compared to Celtic. And despite all the Sky millions you are still nothing. I watched the play-off against Leeds and your team was rotten. No wonder your manager is trying to bring in a better class of player like Matt O’Riley. The Bhoy has better options and staying at Celtic will beat signing for your dog-fight.
Europa League not long ago beat inter Milan. You need to be realistic Southampton are not a small club they are same as Leicester with a decent fan base. A few years ago they were knocking on the top 6 door and are looking to expand their stadium as their owner stated at Wembley. The south coast is a great place to live and they have an amazing training complex one of the best. They can offer all that anda decent contract in the best league in the world.
Oh dear , another’ fan ‘ of the tourist league whose own team should called the yo yo’s . Just keep the millions coming our way .
Grow up mate & grow a pair or maybe you dont have any lol
Matt don’t go to a team who will win nothing and will never play in the champions league or any other tournament .
Lovin it
Late at night, when your laptop is put away and you’re brushing the remaining half of your teeth, no captive audience to wind up or be amused at your witty ripostes Ivor…and you glance in the mirror at the heart attack inducing gut you can never find t-shirts to flatter, your only gf an online subscription, console yourself with your banter. It is often a determined effort from the perennial bridesmaid, to reduce champions and winners to size of wealth, as without any trophy or even a sniff of something to be proud of, all you have left is defiance. I bet your username gave you 27 secs of canned personal laughter. But it’s worn off now. Just your toothbrush and flaky skin staring back at you. Continue lovin that reflection. HH
I think if he goes anywhere, his age dictates that he has the opportunity for success (as opposed to being mid-30’s and considering winding down for big money but lesser challenge or SArabia). Given nowadays, players aren’t forced to go somewhere, he has the chance to do well in the Ch League so it would likely be one of the Italian clubs or Athletico
Fair play to Southampton for looking like being the 1st club to be potentially prepared to meet our valuation of O’Riley?
Unfortunately for them O’Riley remains a way too intelligent of a player to be wasting his time going to Southampton, when a career move of staying with ourselves, would be a much better option for himself.
Plenty of much bigger clubs have been mentioned regarding O’Riley, and quite rightly so, and even ourselves remains as a much higher profile club than Southampton ever will be.
Admittedly many players can put the money available to themselves before the career opportunity.
But wouldn’t put O’Riley in that bracket of player, so we could yet be thankful to Southampton for actually being able to keep hold of O’Riley for ourselves yet.