The news all Celtic fans and Brendan Rodgers were dreading emerged on Wednesday in the form of Atletico Madrid making a bid for Matt O’Riley.
As of yet, there won’t be any panic because the 23-year-old is still a Celtic player and there aren’t any signs that the club will sell him during the January transfer window.
Sky Sports reported that the Scottish Premiership champions received a bid from Atletico Madrid for Matt O’Riley – a loan with an obligation to buy.
Stephen McGinn stated that he just can’t see Celtic selling their ‘best player’ this month because it hasn’t been the club’s strategy in the past, as he told Go Radio.
It also needs to be noted that the powers that be in the Parkhead boardroom are in a strong position because the Danish star only recently signed a new deal.
So, from that perspective, there isn’t any rush to sell. Plus, the value is still maintained for the summer.
Nonetheless, Stephen McGinn used the summer departure of Jota as an example of what would be needed for Celtic to do the unthinkable this month.
Atletico Madrid bid for Matt O’Riley
“No, I don’t see any team giving out their best players in January on loan,” said McGinn.
“I have always said one thing Celtic are good at, in the last five to ten years, but they do tend to lose their best players in the summer, which gives them time to replace.
“It wouldn’t make any sort of sense. I think the only way Matt O’Riley leaves this January is if a bid comes up, like the Jota one, which is just too good to turn down.”
Come the summer…
There shouldn’t be any worry about O’Riley being sold now, there is a title to win and he is going to be crucial in Rodgers delivering that.
But come the summer, the obvious might just happen and that’s O’Riley being sold, especially because serious money might be put on the table for him.
Jota moved to Saudi Arabia for £25 million. A record transfer sale for the club. Surely that has to be broken for O’Riley to leave?
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