Transfer talk has been rife this week and it was all started from the strangest source.
Newcastle’s pursuit of Leicester City’s James Maddison has had a ripple effect that has reached Glasgow with rumours that Brendan Rodgers would look to Matt O’Riley as a replacement for the England international should the £50m+ move go ahead.
Vital Celtic reported yesterday that Leicester have placed a ‘Not for Sale’ sign on Maddison which should end all talk of O’Riley joining up with Rodgers.
But let’s say the unthinkable happened and the former Celtic boss decided to launch a bid for our midfielder.
What price should Celtic realistically expect to receive for the Danish u21 international?
Journalist, Pete O’Rourke, reckons the club should not accept anything less than £15m for his services.
Speaking in The Transfer Tavern, O’Rourke said, “I think in the current market you’re probably looking at O’Riley around the £15-20m mark.
“If you’re seeing how well he did at Celtic last year, and again, if Celtic were to sell him for that price, it would represent a massive profit from what they got from MK Dons as well.
“So, I think if Celtic were to lose him, I think they would ask for top dollar and I think it would be a good piece of business financially, but I just think that Ange Postecoglou will be looking to keep hold of him and I’m sure if he continues to have another good season, his price tag will be even higher next summer.”
Long gone are the day’s clubs from down south come and cherry-pick Scottish footballs top talents for bargain fees.
Celtic have mastered the art of getting the true value for their players over the years whenever the EPL clubs come calling.
One thing we can be sure of is that when the time comes, the board will get the best price for O’Riley.
But that time is not now.
With the transfer window almost close to an end take our *BRAND NEW* quiz and test your knowledge on Celtic’s most expensive transfers.
O’Riley is a much better player than Maddison and he is going nowhere.
He is happy where he is.