Celtic Knock Back Fresh Bid For Matt O’Riley

Celtic have knocked back a fifth offer from Atalanta for their midfield maestro, Matt O’Riley, CeltsAreHere understands

It seems the Serie A outfit are determined to secure the services of the Hoops’ standout talent, with Sky Italia reporting that the latest bid topped a hefty £20 million. However, the powers that be at Parkhead remain resolute, holding out for a sum north of £25 million before they even consider letting O’Riley go.

O’Riley, who put pen to paper on a new deal just last year, is tied to Celtic until 2027, giving the club a strong hand in negotiations. The Bhoys are eyeing up a record-breaking transfer fee for Scottish Football should they decide to part ways with the 23-year-old. The current benchmark was set by the £25 million deals that saw Kieran Tierney head to Arsenal and Jota to Al-Ittihad.

Atalanta’s pursuit of O’Riley has been relentless, starting with a £15 million bid and inching upwards with each offer. Yet, Celtic are standing firm. It’s also been floated that Brighton and Southampton are sniffing around, but nothing concrete has materialised from the English clubs so far.

Gianluca DiMarzio suggests that Atalanta might come back with a sixth offer, as they’re desperate to fill the void left by Teun Koopmeiners, who’s on the verge of signing for Juventus. The Italian side’s pursuit of O’Riley and Koopmeiners’ potential departure appear to be intertwined, with Atalanta reportedly unwilling to greenlight Koopmeiners’ move until they’ve secured a suitable replacement, and O’Riley is their top pick.

Celtic fans might find some irony in all this, as the slow, incremental bidding war is something they’ve seen their club do plenty of times in the past. Now, it’s the Hoops who are sitting back and dictating terms, showing that when it comes to their prized assets, they won’t be pushed around easily.