Atalanta 'close' to Celtic Matt O'Riley...

Atalanta ‘close’ to Celtic Matt O’Riley asking price and confident of… Read More 👇

Atalanta is reportedly closing in on meeting Celtic’s asking price for Matt O’Riley, with the Serie A club increasingly confident of securing a deal. According to reports from Italy, particularly from La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian side has been steadily increasing their bids for the midfielder, having initially fallen well short of Celtic’s valuation of £25 million.

Over the course of negotiations, Atalanta has progressively raised their offers, with the latest bid reportedly reaching £23 million. This amount, while still £2 million shy of Celtic’s asking price, is believed to have brought the two clubs closer to an agreement. The Italian club is optimistic that they can bridge the remaining gap and finalize the transfer, especially considering the Danish international’s interest in the move.

O’Riley, who has impressed during his time at Celtic, has attracted significant interest from various clubs, but Atalanta appears to be in pole position. The 23-year-old midfielder is reportedly more inclined to join Atalanta rather than moving to the Premier League with Brighton. One of the key factors influencing his preference is the opportunity to continue playing in the UEFA Champions League, which Atalanta can offer, unlike Brighton, who are competing in the Premier League but not in Europe’s premier club competition.

The move to Atalanta would mark O’Riley’s next big step in his career after a successful spell at Celtic. Since joining the Glasgow club from MK Dons, O’Riley has been a standout performer, quickly establishing himself as a key player under various managers. His performances have not gone unnoticed, and a move to Serie A would be seen as a significant progression, especially with Atalanta’s track record of developing and showcasing young talent.

If the deal goes through, O’Riley would become Atalanta’s sixth signing of the summer, following the impending announcement of Marco Brescianini as their fifth. The Danish international is expected to fill the void left by Teun Koopmeiners, who is on the verge of joining Juventus in a £55 million transfer. Koopmeiners has been a crucial player for Atalanta, and the club sees O’Riley as a capable replacement who can bring creativity and control to their midfield.

The transfer saga has seen several twists, with Southampton also showing interest in O’Riley earlier in the summer. Southampton manager Russell Martin, who previously worked with O’Riley at MK Dons, was keen to reunite with the midfielder and bring him to the Premier League. However, Southampton’s financial constraints have hindered their ability to compete with Atalanta’s offer. Martin confirmed that his club is currently out of the race, stating, “We are not in the race right now.” This effectively leaves Atalanta as the front-runners for O’Riley’s signature.

Celtic has been firm in their valuation of O’Riley, and their stance seems to be paying off as Atalanta edges closer to meeting their demands. The potential transfer would be one of the biggest sales in Celtic’s recent history and would provide the Scottish champions with significant funds to reinvest in their squad. The move would also allow O’Riley to test himself in one of Europe’s top leagues, a challenge he appears eager to embrace.

As negotiations continue, both clubs are working to finalize the details, with the expectation that a deal could be concluded soon. If Atalanta can meet Celtic’s £25 million valuation, it would pave the way for O’Riley to make the switch to Italy, where he would be looking to make an immediate impact in Serie A and the Champions League.

This transfer, if completed, would be another example of Celtic’s ability to develop and sell top talent, while also highlighting Atalanta’s ambition to strengthen their squad with quality players who can help them compete both domestically and in Europe. For O’Riley, the move represents an exciting new chapter in his career, offering him the chance to continue his development on one of football’s biggest stages.