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The Chances Of Celtic Keeping O’Riley Are Enhanced As Atalanta Step Back From The Table.

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Under normal circumstances, news from the Italian league wouldn’t bother Celtic one bit.

But this weekend, Atalanta finally closed in on, and then captured, one of their prime midfield targets. Almost everyone agrees this marks the end of their pursuit of Matt O’Riley, at least in this transfer window.

One dire Daily Record reporter tried to spin it by claiming that Atalanta had lost patience with Celtic—a claim he seemingly pulled out of thin air. Nowhere in any of the reports from Italy or elsewhere was this mentioned.

If Atalanta lost patience with Celtic, it could only be because they weren’t listening to Celtic in the first place. Celtic set a price for Matt O’Riley, and until that price is met, there’s nothing to discuss. Atalanta know what that price is, and they have the funds to meet it. If they choose not to, and instead keep submitting bids below that figure, then it’s Celtic who should lose patience, not them.

From the start, we’ve been clear that we don’t wish to sell Matt O’Riley.

However, we have a policy—whether you agree with it or not—that if a club matches our valuation, we will tell the player he has a decision to make. No club has met that valuation, and Matt has been understanding and tremendous about the situation.

I’ve been pretty clear on this blog that I thought that if Matt didn’t get his move this summer that we should all appreciate his loyalty and his maturity in not throwing a tantrum and reward that with improved terms.

He deserves to feel wanted and valued leading up to January, when I’m certain a whole rash of new offers will come in. And the reason I’m sure those offers will come is that by then, Matt will have played on the Champions League stage. Clubs who weren’t interested in him before will definitely be interested then.

No one really doubts that if Matt plays on that stage and plays well, we’ll get £30 million or whatever the figure is. No one doubts Matt has the talent to do just that.

If Matt O’Riley stays at this club this summer, the Champions League will be his opportunity to put himself in the shop window, making himself available to clubs willing to spend big money. That’s to his benefit and to ours.

There were two clubs interested in Matt that I had no doubt he would have moved to if the opportunity presented itself: Atlético Madrid and Atalanta.

I also think it’s possible he would consider moving to Brighton, because despite what some people think, Brighton are a progressive, forward-thinking club. Their transfer policy is absolutely superb, and I can’t praise it enough. That’s exactly the kind of transfer policy Celtic should have.

Brighton knows that sometimes you have to spend big money to get the player to the club initially, but they’ve proven adept at selling those players on for significant profits. They have an excellent system.

Brighton are now the last club standing.

Reports today suggest that once they have Billy Gilmour off the books that they will move for Matt and want that deal done.

We’ll see. They will have to offer more than they have up until now.

Atlético have moved on to someone else, and Atalanta have just completed their deal. The idea of a move to Chelsea was never taken seriously, and they quickly dismissed the idea that they were serious players in this. Southampton bowed out last week, admitting that the deal was far too rich for their blood.

So, this weekend’s news about Atalanta really does take the biggest other player off the table. It’s not completely out of the question that a club might come in with a late offer we can’t refuse, but if it isn’t going to be Brighton, Matt won’t move this window.

Now, none of us knows for sure what the mood inside the club is in relation to this.

I strongly suspect our board expected a £30 million windfall this summer, which would have allowed them to post another transfer surplus and give Rodgers greater latitude to spend. Matt O’Riley staying at Celtic will probably cost the manager something in terms of his overall budget.

But there should still be enough in the kitty for a left-back, a centre-back, a backup striker, and perhaps even one more player. We have made huge sums of money, not only from the players we’ve moved on this year but also sales like Liel Abada, completed after the January window closed. We’ve sold out season tickets, and we’re heading into the Champions League group stages, which will bring even more cash to the table. This is a club awash with money.

And really, when it comes down to it, we haven’t spent an awful lot of it. A number of key deals and player departures have brought in big bucks. The extra income from the Champions League TV revenue all adds up. If we don’t push the boat out for the manager here—not too far, but enough so that he doesn’t feel short-changed—it would be a bad day all around.

Bernardo is a really good signing. Idah is a tremendous signing. Another couple of players of that calibre are just what the doctor ordered. If we bring in a couple of loans with options to buy, as well as spending some hard cash, we could really push on as a club and make a splash in Europe this season, something we’ve wanted to do for years.

So yes, loans with options to buy as a replacement for going out and spending big money in the here and now are the way to move forward if Matt doesn’t go.

We are all entitled to expect significant business before this window shuts; that’s what the board’s buddies have been promising after all. We should also expect we’ll see a better class of signing than we’ve seen in recent years.

It’s time for people at Celtic to start thinking big.

If O’Riley is going to be here for the Champions League groups and we can add quality to the existing squad, that puts us in a better position than we’ve been in for a long time. That gives us a better team on the park than we’ve had in a long time. And only a very perverse board of directors could ever see that as a negative.

I’m beginning to think that Matt is staying. I think he’s resigned himself to being at Parkhead for at least another four or five months. And that’s not a hardship for Matt because he’s very happy at Celtic and playing under Brendan Rodgers. As I’ve already said, we should sweeten the deal by raising his salary in the meantime.

We’re about to see the difference between the board’s version of value and the manager’s version of value. Matt’s value to this team is what the boss thinks it is out on the pitch. He’ll be delighted if he still has O’Riley’s talents for this Champions League tilt, and so should every single one of us. He’s a model professional and a tremendous footballer.

There are some delusional fools and gibbering wonders among the Ibrox fanbase, and perhaps in the mainstream media, who will claim Celtic have lost out on a big fee if Matt is still here on 1 September. But Celtic will post an end-of-year profit no matter what. We will still have a surplus, and it’s not just about having cash in the bank, it’s about making sure the club’s financial power is reflected on the pitch.

And in a curious way, having Matt O’Riley still in the Celtic team despite several offers of £20 million plus for a player who cost us a mere £1 million is a reflection of the club’s power.

No other side in Scotland could, or would, have turned that down. The fact that we’re able to say no, that we’re able to hang on to him, that we’re able to flex our muscles where it matters, by keeping him in the starting eleven, is significant.

No, it won’t make up for a lack of signings. And if this team isn’t stronger when the window shuts than it was before it opened, a lot of people will have questions to answer, and there will be a reckoning. But let’s not kid ourselves. It’s only because we have money in the bank, because we live within our means, and because we have a more professional operation than the utter shambles across the city, that we can face down Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, and Premier League clubs waving their chequebooks and say, “Hold it, no, there’s nothing to talk about until you meet our fee.”

And I think there’s an increasing likelihood that Matt O’Riley will be available not only for the coming game against our local rivals but that he’ll play a full part in the eight Champions League fixtures to come. One way or another, that’s a sign of strength.

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7 comments

  • JimBhoy says:

    Don’t think we are out the woods yet, Brighton back in now.

    Celtic should set a deadline that is not that last second of the transfer window and set start price no exceptions within that window, any bid after there is a new price £30m.

    6 lowball bids shouldn’t look bad on Celtic moreso on the bidding club who know the start price. They are just chancing their arm.

    I think O’Riley will definitely go even though with a good CL run he would be even more valuable next season. Not how our board work unfortunately.

    I do think we can improve the team though If Brendan is allowed the money to replace O’Riley and time to do that. That’s the challenge, timing and money freed up.

    • Jay says:

      Completely agree, I think if the bid isn’t in by Friday this week then he is no longer available in this window. Give ourselves the safety of having time to get a replacement in.
      I also agree with James 100% offer him a wage rise to reflect his value. Ask him to sign a deal that keeps his contract length at 3 years next summer so we are in a position of strength & not feeling any pressure for low ball offers but have an agreement with Matt that if a club he wants to go to comes in with an offer that’s meets Celtic valuation we won’t stand in his way.
      I think we want £30m now between up front payment & in add-ons. If he plays well in the Champions League then I see no reason why we don’t look for £40m next summer.
      Possibly getting greedy with the transfer fee but if he can show his talent on the main stage the player is worth it.

      I think MOR has carried himself perfectly in all of this also. He isn’t acting desperate to leave he is still putting the work in for the team. It’s another big reason the club has been able to take the stance they have because he is happy to stay here.

  • Kevan McKeown says:

    Would be a huge boost if he stays. Tho just as big a blow if he goes imo. Hopefully he doesn’t see Brighton as a step up and the board make him a good offer. Even if it is for this season.

  • JimBhoy says:

    Hatate according to the red tops, who say according to a report. Just a report… LMAO

  • Clachnacuddin and the Hoops says:

    The Daily Record again… Sigh… Just when is that bastard rag finally gonna fuckin well die…

    Soon Pleeeeeeeeezzzee Bloody well Soon !!!!

  • Birdman says:

    I was at the ladies game yesterday, they didn’t look as strong as in the few games I managed to attend last season, but the rumours and sound bites about both teams being backed by the club were good. I, we, all agree on the positions we require to strengthen as a minimum and must do if there’s not going to be Hell to pay. I would like to agree with the point you make about the movement of players that have moved on and that in this respect we’ve strengthened considerably out financial position. We have done well and I think if we were an EPL club we’d do equally as well as Brighton. The attraction of playing in the EPL is the biggest difference and a magnet that even our worldwide reputation can’t match. Brighton’s gain. I’m trying my best not to look to the board’s past in our transfer dealings and looking forward with great anticipation to some smart dealings and a treat of a season

  • Michael Clark says:

    It turns out Atlanta was another club just like Southampton who were trying to get another Celtic player on the cheap. Maybe at last the board have realised that if they are going to sell their prize possession (our prize possession) at least get a payment worthy of the player. I said before Celtic have let some fantastic players leave for a fraction of their worth. Now we have Brighton sniffing around, nothing more than a seaside resort. If Matt O’Rielly has any ambitions he surely won’t go there. His Champions league football will be finished if he ends up playing fir that lot

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