Brighton Face Summer Bid from Roma for Key Midfielder | OneFootball

Roma Target Matt O’Riley as Brighton Set £25m Valuation

Roma Step Up Pursuit of Matt O’Riley

Serie A giants Roma have made their first move in pursuit of Brighton midfielder Matt O’Riley, as reported by Gazzetta. Discussions have begun over a potential deal, with the Seagulls setting a firm valuation. “Brighton wants 25 million, Roma aims to lower the price.”

The 23-year-old Dane, formerly of Celtic, has long been admired in Italy. Then Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini was close to landing him last season before the deal fell through. Now, Roma view O’Riley as a direct replacement for Leandro Paredes, following their failure to sign Davide Frattesi.

O’Riley has given the green light to a potential switch, according to the Italian outlet, making this a deal that hinges on valuation and timing rather than persuasion.

Photo: IMAGO

Brighton Maintain Strong Stance

Brighton’s £25 million asking price reflects O’Riley’s importance to their squad. Since arriving from Celtic, he has brought poise, tactical versatility, and a growing goalscoring touch to the Amex midfield.

The Seagulls are not known to cave easily when it comes to negotiations, having previously held firm on valuations for Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister. Their model relies on selling on their terms, and it seems O’Riley is no exception.

Roma’s strategy, by contrast, is to negotiate the price down, especially given that the player’s camp has already expressed a willingness to move. Whether Brighton budge remains to be seen, but their reputation in the transfer market suggests it will take a compelling bid to move the needle.

Juranovic Also Proposed in Talks

As part of wider discussions, Union Berlin right-back Josip Juranovic has also been mentioned. Gazzetta noted that he “was also proposed for the bench” during talks with O’Riley’s agency. The Croatian defender, formerly with Celtic as well, is thought to be open to a move, though this element of the discussion appears far less advanced.

Photo: IMAGO

Juranovic, a dependable presence on the right flank, could serve as depth rather than an automatic starter. That, however, may complicate the structure of the deal, especially if Brighton are to remain focused on protecting O’Riley’s value without being distracted by multi-player negotiations.

O’Riley’s Profile Suits Serie A

Roma’s interest in O’Riley is no surprise. The midfielder’s blend of technical control, progressive passing, and tactical intelligence makes him a strong candidate for Italian football, where possession and positional discipline are highly prized.

O’Riley contributed significantly at Brighton last season, both in open play and with his set-piece delivery. His composure and maturity, traits he developed at Celtic and honed further under Fabian Hurzeler, have not gone unnoticed by scouts on the continent.

Should this deal go through, it would represent another Premier League-to-Serie A move that underlines the increasingly fluid talent exchange between England and Italy.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Brighton fans, this feels like a crossroads moment. Matt O’Riley has quietly become a central figure in the midfield rotation. Letting him go for anything less than the reported £25 million would be poor business, and entirely out of character for a club that’s made smart sales its trademark.

Yes, Brighton are adept at succession planning, but it’s easy to forget O’Riley is still just 23 and hasn’t yet hit his ceiling. Selling now would be selling early, and perhaps unnecessarily so, unless the funds are earmarked for a new midfield anchor.

Then there’s the emotional side. Fans have grown used to the revolving door, but there’s always a tipping point where continuity matters more than profit. Losing O’Riley would hurt, not catastrophically, but enough to disrupt the rhythm Hurzeler has tried to build post-Mac Allister and Caicedo.

If Roma really want him, they should pay the going rate. Brighton have proven time and again that they don’t get pushed around in the market, and this summer should be no different.