Matt O’Riley makes his intention CLEAR to celtic after they have rejected 5 bids from Brighton and…..

Exclusive: Matt O’Riley Makes Celtic Plea as Brighton Table £25million Bid

According to sources close to the club, Matt O’Riley has informed Celtic that he wants to join Brighton if a deal can be agreed upon. The Seagulls have submitted a formal bid of £25million, including significant add-ons, to secure the versatile midfielder’s services.

Celtic have rejected five offers from Atalanta throughout this transfer window, including one worth up to £21.5million, as they vowed to hold out for more. However, Brighton’s bid has provided more, and sources believe a deal could be agreed upon in the next 24 hours.

O’Riley’s expected departure will leave a significant hole in Celtic’s midfield, as he has played 124 games for the club since joining from MK Dons in 2022, scoring 27 goals and providing 35 assists. Despite the transfer speculation surrounding him this summer, O’Riley has remained professional and committed to Celtic.

However, those close to the club believe O’Riley is keen to test himself in the Premier League after making a huge impact in Glasgow. The Denmark international has played every minute of Celtic’s season so far, creating one assist in his three appearances. Nevertheless, he’s now actively wanting to move south of the border to embark on a career in the Premier League with Brighton.

Celtic are already lining up a potential replacement for O’Riley in Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri. Football Insider revealed the Hoops are plotting to hijack Rangers’ deal for the Tunisian to try and bring him to Celtic Park this month.

In other news, Celtic’s Daniel Kelly jets into London for a medical today after a U-turn. For more Celtic news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates sent straight to your phone.

O’Riley’s desire to join Brighton comes as no surprise, given the Premier League club’s growing reputation and ambition. The Seagulls have been actively strengthening their squad this summer, and O’Riley’s addition would be a significant coup.

The 23-year-old’s versatility and skillset make him an attractive proposition for Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi. O’Riley’s ability to play in various midfield roles, combined with his goalscoring threat, would undoubtedly enhance Brighton’s squad.

Celtic, however, will be reluctant to let O’Riley go without a fight. The Scottish champions have invested significant time and resources into developing the midfielder, and his departure would be a blow to their ambitions.

Nevertheless, the lure of the Premier League and Brighton’s substantial bid may prove too tempting for O’Riley to resist. As the situation unfolds, Celtic fans will be anxiously waiting to see if their club can retain one of their prized assets or if O’Riley will indeed make the switch to Brighton.