TRANSFER:Celtic play hardball over Matt O'Riley Atalanta transfer...

Celtic play hardball over Matt O’Riley Atalanta transfer asking price as £5m successor sees deal ‘collapse‘

Celtic Football Club remains firm on their valuation for Matt O’Riley, with Atalanta struggling to meet the Scottish side’s demands despite persistent efforts. Throughout the summer, the Serie A club has shown keen interest in the 23-year-old Danish international, submitting multiple offers, all of which have been rejected by Celtic.

Interest in O’Riley extends beyond Italy, with English Premier League clubs such as Brighton, Chelsea, Bournemouth, and Southampton, as well as Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan, reportedly monitoring the situation.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has consistently emphasized that the club is under no obligation to sell O’Riley, a message that was reinforced when Celtic rejected yet another bid from Atalanta. According to Italian sports outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Celtic has made it clear that any deal for O’Riley would require a package exceeding €25 million (£21.3 million).

Despite Atalanta’s continued interest, their offers have so far fallen short of this valuation.

Amid these negotiations, Celtic is reportedly considering potential replacements should a deal for O’Riley eventually go through.

One such option is Tanner Tessmann, a midfielder currently playing for Venezia. Tessmann’s potential move to Fiorentina, which had appeared close to completion, is now at risk of falling apart.

Tutto Mercato Web reports that the two clubs had agreed on a deal worth €5 million (£4.2 million) with an additional €1.2 million (£800,000) in add-ons. However, the deal is now in jeopardy due to unresolved issues regarding the commission to be paid to Tessmann’s agents.

As it stands, no agreement has been reached with Tessmann, and the delay in finalizing the deal has led to concerns that it could collapse entirely.

This development adds another layer of complexity to the situation, as Celtic weighs their options in light of the ongoing negotiations with Atalanta.

If Tessmann’s move to Fiorentina falls through, he could become a viable target for Celtic should they decide to part ways with O’Riley.

The standoff between Celtic and Atalanta reflects the Scottish club’s determination to secure a deal that meets their valuation of O’Riley, while also exploring potential replacements to ensure they remain competitive.

With interest from several top European clubs, the situation remains fluid, and it is uncertain how long Celtic will hold out or if Atalanta will ultimately meet their asking price.

In the meantime, Rodgers and his team continue to prepare for the upcoming season, knowing that the outcome of these transfer negotiations could significantly impact their squad.