Celtic do not want to sell midfield ace Matt O’Riley in January amid interest from multiple Premier League clubs, sources have told Football Insider.
It is believed that the Hoops are aware of English sides’ interest in the 23-year-old, but have no intention of letting him depart Parkhead this winter.
As revealed by Football Insider on Tuesday (26 December), West Ham United are keeping close tabs on O’Riley who is being watched by numerous clubs in the English top flight.
Brendan Rodgers’ club value the Danish international at £25million – the same fee paid by Arsenal for left-back Kieran Tierney in the summer of 2019.
The Hammers have regularly sent scouts to check out the central midfielder this season, including the majority of their six Champions League group-stage games.
He has been deemed a prized asset at the club and is seen as the next player on the Hoops’ books to fetch a big-money move akin to Tierney and Odsonne Edouard’s move to Crystal Palace for an initial £14million in the summer of 2021.
Celtic paid a reported £1.5million to MK Dons for O’Riley in January 2022 but they expect to make a handsome profit on him after he has emerged as a vital player in Glasgow.
He has bagged nine goals and eight assists this season and has started in all but one game in all competitions.
Since his move, he has made 97 appearances and notched 17 goals and 24 assists.
They next face Rangers in a hotly-anticipated Old Firm clash on Saturday (30 December) at Celtic Park.
In other news, McAvennie wants Celtic to sell two stars Brendan Rodgers ‘doesn’t like’ – ‘Get it right this time’.
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