Celtic bound Matt O’Riley: “He’s having a great season at MK Dons and has caught the attention of Denmark” | OneFootball

Icon: The Celtic Star

The Celtic Star

·19 January 2022

Celtic bound Matt O’Riley: “He’s having a great season at MK Dons and has caught the attention of Denmark”

Article image:Celtic bound Matt O’Riley: “He’s having a great season at MK Dons and has caught the attention of Denmark”

As we reported earlier, Celtic interest in Hannes Wolf from Borussia Monchengladbach appears to have been somewhat wide of the mark. The Austrian playmaker is leaving the Bundesliga as expected; however, his move looks like being a short-term loan deal to Swansea City rather than Celtic.

And that particular move looks to have been as a consequence of Swansea, alongside Blackburn Rovers, losing out to Celtic in their attempts to sign the highly rated 21-year-old Matt O’Riley from Milton Keynes Dons.


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O’Riley has been a sought-after talent due to his impressive performances for MK Dons in League One this season, as such there had been a great deal of interest shown in the talented youngster from higher level English clubs. Initially it appeared Swansea was the likely destination.

Now however the normally reliable Athletic are reporting Celtic have stolen a march on Swansea and Blackburn and a £1.5m deal looks to be about to be struck that would see O’Riley join Ange Postecoglou’s revolution, and give the player a genuine crack at Champions League football next season rather than the second tier of English football.

‘Celtic are closing in on a deal to sign Matt O’Riley from MK Dons for £1.5 million, The Athletic understands. The 21-year-old, who moved to the League One club from Fulham last January, is expected to join Ange Postecoglou’s side in the next couple of days. A former England youth international, O’Riley has attracted interest from clubs across Europe and in the Championship, where Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City were both strongly linked with the attacking midfielder. With seven goals and five assists to his name for MK Dons this season, O’Riley has been one of the standout players in League One.’

With seven goals and five assists this season O’Riley is just the attacking midfielder Ange Postecoglou would be looking to attract, and with the manager already having indicated his wish for further central midfield options after trying to sign Riley McGree before missing out to Middlesboro, then O’Riley looks to be the ‘something extraordinary’ option the Celtic manager indicated would draw him back into the January transfer market.

Unlike Hannes Wolf, O’Riley would be available on a permanent deal. The right footed midfielder is described as ‘all action’ and is a player whose strengths lie in the attacking third of the pitch and that would indicate a player tailor made for the number eight position at Celtic.

And at the age of 21 the only way is up for Matt O’Riley. It is clear after only a year with MK Dons he’s already outgrown his environment and with trophies to chase in Scotland and the tantalising chance to play on the European stage, the ceiling for the players growth can be raised higher still with a move to Celtic, meanwhile at such a young age his profile fits for Celtic when it comes to potential re-sale value.

With passing, finishing and dribbling all key attributes to Matt O’Riley’s game it appears the MK Dons midfielder would be a good fit for Celtic and Celtic for him. And with Swansea City now moving on to Hannes Wolf as a target, it appears that Celtic may well be the destination for this talented youngster.

Niall J

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