Matt O’Riley rejected Leeds United move after Celtic accepted bid – expert
Celtic turned down Leeds United’s bid for Matt O’Riley because he didn’t want to leave.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie said the club would have accepted Leeds’ offer but O’Riley will have told Brendan Rodgers he doesn’t want to leave.
The 22-year-old joined the Scottish champions in January last year (2022) and his current deal runs until 2026.
According to Sky Sports (31 August), the Celts rejected a £10million offer from Leeds for the midfielder.
The Whites had been in search of reinforcements following their relegation to the Championship, losing several key players due to relegation release clauses in their contracts.
When asked if O’Riley would have been keen on a move to Leeds, McAvennie told Football Insider: “I wouldn’t think so.
“£10m would have been a good deal but would you want to go to the Championship when you can play in the Champions League.
“I do not think it will have been that Celtic rejected the £10m because that is decent money and they have already got players that can do his job.
“Brendan will have spoken to him and O’Riley would have turned it down saying he wants to play in the Champions League because that is what he has been dreaming of.“
O’Riley made 52 appearances for the Hoops across all competitions last season and was in the starting lineup for 41 of those outings.
The Denmark youth international netted four goals and offered up 14 assists throughout the campaign.
In other news, midfielder wants to quit Celtic after club make contract offer U-turn.