EPL Side Launch Concrete Matt O’Riley Bid; Could Start Bidding War

Southampton has entered the fray for Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley, launching a bid that could spark a bidding war for the highly sought-after player.

The English Premier League newcomers, under the management of Russell Martin, who has previously worked with O’Riley at MK Dons, are keen to bolster their squad as they aim to secure their top-flight status following their recent promotion.

O’Riley, aged 23, has attracted considerable interest from clubs across Europe. Atalanta made a move with a £15 million bid, which was promptly rejected by Celtic, with the Scottish club holding out for a figure in excess of £25 million. Despite a slightly increased follow-up offer, Atalanta’s bid was still found wanting by Celtic’s valuation.

Italian Sports outlet TuttoMercato reports that Southampton has now made a concrete offer, stepping up the comPetition for O’Riley’s signature. Atalanta, interested in O’Riley as a potential replacement for the departing Teun Koopmeiners, now faces a critical decision on whether to increase their bid in response to Southampton’s move.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, Atletico Madrid, which showed interest in O’Riley back in January, could potentially re-enter the bidding, further heating up the transfer battle.

As the transfer saga unfolds, all eyes will be on how Atalanta, Atletico Madrid and other interested clubs respond to Southampton’s bid, setting the stage for what could be one of the summer’s most intriguing transfer tussles.