Matt O'Riley

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgerssays he is not aware of any concrete interest in Matt O’Riley after Girona became the latest club to be linked with the midfielder.

Reports claim the Spanish La Liga leaders are mulling over a move for the Denmarkinternational ahead this month, but Rodgers – speaking ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie against Buckie Thistle – commented in his broadcast press conference: “I’m not aware of any (interest). But it’s natural, if you’ve got good players then of course they will attract attention. But I’m not focused on that at all. We don’t want to be losing any (of our best players). The plan was to add to the squad and that’s still the plan.

O’Riley was subject of a failed bid from Leeds United, believed to be in the region of £10million, last summer and has since attracted interest from major clubs in Europe, including Internazionale. The former MK Dons playmaker, however, has emerged as one of Celtic’s key players

 

Unless we are getting daft money, and I mean £30 million then we shouldn’t be selling this window.

seen a report that Girona have made a bid of 16.5 million. Cheeky * they are part of the city group and we should be squeezing every * penny out of them.

 

BRENDAN RODGERS insists coveted Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley won’t have his head turned by talk of a big-money move to La Liga.

Spanish league leaders Girona are weighing up a move for the in-form Denmark international after a sparkling start to the season.

Rodgers insists there have been no offers for the 23-year-old since concrete interest from Leeds United and Southampton last summer.

And the Parkhead boss doesn’t expect O’Riley to bang on his door agitating for a move after the former MK Dons player signed a new contract tying him to the Scottish champions until 2027.

‘I think we saw that in the summer when there was clearly interest and he could have left,’ said Rodgers. ‘But we didn’t want to sell for one and, two, he was very happy here.

‘So, yeah, he is a great guy to have around and a really good team-mate. He is really enjoying his football.’

City Group club Girona, who have Pep Guardiola’s brother, Pere, as chairman, are currently taking La Liga by storm and lead Real Madrid by a point at the top of the table.

Despite another Spanish club and teams in England taking an interest in O’Riley, Celtic have no plans to sell key performers in the current window.

Rating him in the £25million bracket, Rodgers admitted that conjecture is inevitable in light of his recent form.

‘It’s all speculation and we all know the game, we know how it works,’ he said.

‘My only focus is on the players, while they are here each day, to try to make them better. Anything other than that is only ever gossip or speculation unless something comes to me. Otherwise there is nothing for me to speak about. In terms of form, quality, professionalism, age, everything, Matt has been top class in my time here. It’s great to see a young player develop — but he deserves it because he puts so much into his game.

‘Off the pitch he prepares himself well and that gives him the confidence. He then works beside that and you see his success on the pitch.

‘He is such a graceful player, how he gets about, and he is at that age where that hunger and mentality is there to get better and improve.’

 

Another sale for 15-20 million if it happens and will be replaced with 2-3 million . No wonder we struggle.

 

£30m or gtf.

 

No progression at the club we were buying players at 2 and 3 million 20 years ago.

 

He's going for the otherside of £20m.

Easily.

He cost £1.5m. It would seem our model works.

I know I'm being arsey here but all this does is reinforce the board's self belief that they're right and know better than the fans.

We actually aren't against under £3m signings. We're just against EVERY signing being under £3m. We're sick and tired of sitting on piles and piles of cash and not changing our model when we can.

 

More likely north of £20m and be replaced by a £6m signing in Paulo Bernardo

 

No chance he leaves in this window IMO because the board, as tone deaf as they can be at times, will surely know keeping him till the Summer is worth more.

Would need to be over 30m to even consider it imo and allegedly we turned similar down for Edouard before the 10 season so it’s not like they would 100% take it either.

 

I've always seen Bernardo as more of a Mooy than an O'Riley. Do you see him differently, mate?

 

You know I never really liked this guy but he has well and truly won me over. I can't imagine the team without him now. I hope we manage to hang on to him as he has become such a leader on the park.

 

not happy with the state of the pitch. really should be better given our.. ahem.. resources...

 

Hoping he stays to at least the Summer

 

He really seems to be a great team mate and maybe becoming a leader for us. I have noticed for instance how he really celebrates goals with his team mates especially guys getting their first goals like Holm yesterday.

 

Sounds like a top pro. Some player.