Chris Sutton has suggested that Celtic cannot even think of selling Matt O’Riley in the January transfer window, but he “may end up going” next summer.
According to Sky Sports, La Liga giants Atletico Madrid have come up with a bid to sign the 23-year-old central midfielder on loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season.
Diego Simeone has been left impressed by the central midfielder during the Champions League and he wants him at the Spanish club.
According to the Scottish Sun, the Bhoys are ready to rebuff an approach for the midfielder.
Sutton says that the midfielder might leave the club in the summer given how Celtic operate in the transfer market, but right now, they are involved in a title race, and Brendan Rodgers cannot afford to lose his key player.
“Celtic can’t even consider selling now… O’Riley may end up going in the summer as we know the Celtic model but there’s a title to be won and that’s the priority right now,” wrote Sutton on X.
Makes sense
O’Riley is a key player for the Bhoys and it makes little sense to offload him on loan. The Scottish Sun claims that the player has been rated in the £30m category, and it will take a record transfer fee for the Hoops to consider selling him.
He has a contract at Parkhead until 2027 and there is no way the club can buckle under pressure from Atletico Madrid or anyone else. Celtic are expected to face strong competition from Rangers this season in the Scottish Premiership.
The Hoops plan to stand firm and they must resist all temptations dangled at them. Celtic have signed only one player so far, and it will be interesting to see, if they manage to add more players to their ranks in the next few days.
