Celtic: Club could find it difficult to keep Matt O’Riley

Celtic could find it difficult to keep hold of midfielder Matt O’Riley amid interest from the English Premier League.

That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking to This is Futbol about the Scottish champions’ transfer plans heading into the final few weeks of the window.

Leicester have been linked with a move for O’Riley this summer and the midfielder has admitted that he is aware of the interest from the Foxes.

However, the one-time Denmark U21 international has indicated that it’s not something that he’s thinking about at the moment in an interview with Danish outlet Bold.

“Right now though, I think Celtic is a good place to be,” said O’Riley (via Daily Record).

“I have good friends around me, my relationship with the coach is good, and the fans are very special.”

But O’Rourke believes that it will be hard for Ange Postecoglou to keep hold of O’Riley if Leicester and other Premier League clubs begin to circle around the 21-year-old.

He said: “Obviously, you’re worried if Premier League clubs are looking at your players, and if it does come down to it and Leicester do make an offer, then it is going to be hard for Celtic to keep hold of him.”

TIF Thoughts on O’Rourke’s comments…

We believe that Celtic fans will be nervous to read that the club could potentially lose the services of O’Riley this summer, but will have also come to expect this from clubs south of the border.

O’Riley, who has been described as “classy” by pundit Michael Stewart, has made 22 appearances for the Glasgow giants since making the move to Scotland from MK Dons in January for £1.5m plus add-ons, scoring four goals and providing three assists in that time, according to Transfermarkt.

We believe that Celtic should be doing everything they can to ensure that O’Riley is still their player come the end of the window, but if a significant offer came in from the Premier League, it could be hard to turn down.

That said, the fact he has not long joined should work in Celtic’s favour, especially with a Champions League campaign on the horizon.