Southampton submitting formal Matt O’Riley bid – sources
Southampton are ready to submit a formal bid for in-demand Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley, sources have told Football Insider.
Saints boss Russell Martin has a close relationship with O’Riley after their time at MK Dons and is very keen to work with him again in the Premier League.
Celtic are braced for a £20million offer for the 23-year-old after turning down three bids from Atalanta already in this transfer window.
The Europa League winners saw an offer of £15million plus add-ons rejected before the midfielder shone in the 4-1 thrashing of Chelsea in the final game of Celtic’s pre-season tour of the USA.
Football Insider revealed on 27 July that the Scottish champions would hold out for a record-breaking bid of £25million before letting their star man leave.
Southampton plotting £20m bid to sign Matt O’Riley from Celtic
O’Riley joined Celtic from MK Dons in January 2022 for a fee of just £1.5million, and has now made 121 appearances in two-and-a-half years in Glasgow.
However, the bond he and Martin shared while at the League One club has seen the two remain close, with the potential of a reunion now on the cards at St Mary’s.
During his time at Celtic, O’Riley has scored 27 goals and provided 34 assists, establishing himself as a key player under Brendan Rodgers.
Of those goals and assists, 19 and 18 came last season as he swept the board at Celtic’s Player of the Year awards ceremony, helping them to win the league and the Scottish Cup.
Southampton, meanwhile, achieved promotion from the Championship via the playoffs and are looking to strengthen ahead of their return to the Premier League.
O’Riley has been earmarked as a statement signing for the Saints given the level of interest in his signature, with an official bid now being lined up.
Should Martin convince his former player to link up with him at St Mary’s, his arrival will come as a huge boost to their survival chances.
However, Celtic hold the cards over the deal with three years left on his current contract and will stand firm on their high demands.
In other news, Aston Villa have submitted an offer to sign Kalvin Phillips.
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