Matt O’Riley is in the transfer headlines again, 12 months after leaving Celtic.
This time last summer, O’Riley was joining Brighton from Celtic, and despite hoping for more game time than he would have wanted, because of injury, he could be on the move again.
Several clubs have enquired about O’Riley’s services, mainly transfer interest from Italy, in the form of Serie A title winners Napoli and Europa League-bound AS Roma.
What’s interesting is that Roma, who are now managed by Gian Piero Gasperini, could boost their forward line with the Treble-winning Celtic hero, as well as a player who is interesting Brendan Rodgers in Glasgow.
Celtic transfer target Evan Ferguson to play with Matt O’Riley at Roma?
A striker is wanted by the champions of Scotland, with Callum Osmand, who is yet to play a senior game in his career, the only arrival on that front this summer.
67 Hail Hail was told by our transfer correspondent, Graeme Bailey, that Ferguson signing for Celtic ‘could happen’.
But now, Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Roma are ‘working on’ a deal to sign Ferguson from Brighton.
‘AS Roma keep working on Evan Ferguson deal as Brighton are open to accepting initial loan move,’ shared Romano.
‘Salary would be fully covered by Roma, with talks underway also on player side.’
Ferguson’s loan spell to forget at West Ham United
Celtic love signing an Irish player, and they already have one striker in that mould on their books in Adam Idah.
But Idah is dividing opinion following his big money transfer to Glasgow last summer, so it would be interesting to see how Ferguson would be welcomed if he joined.
The issue here is that Ferguson isn’t leaving Brighton because he’s too good for them; it’s because his form has dropped off, and that included on loan at West Ham last season.
Injuries haven’t helped his cause at all, but he’s not exactly in the form of his life, and his name is one to keep an eye on this summer.
- Ferguson’s games for Brighton in the last two seasons: 51
- Goals: 7
- Ferguson’s games for West Ham: 8
- Minutes: 151
- Goals: 0
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