Swansea City will have huge January 2022 Celtic regret: View | OneFootball

It's been another successful season for Celtic as they lifted the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup titles and midfielder Matt O'Riley has been instrumental yet again for the Hoops.

Danish international O'Riley joined the Scottish giants from MK Dons in January 2022 and Swansea City supporters can be forgiven for thinking about what could have been.

The midfielder had impressed during his time playing for MK, and Russell Martin, who'd managed O'Riley at the club, wanted to bring him to Swansea in January 2022.

However, as the Jack Army are all too aware of, O'Riley would instead join Celtic that month, and he's helped the club win three consecutive Scottish Premiership titles, becoming one of the Bhoys' key players.

Not signing Matt O'Riley was a huge mistake by Swansea City

Having managed MK Dons between November 2019 and August 2021 before leaving for Swansea, Martin was all too aware of Matt O'Riley was capable of, and he was clearly a big fan of the midfielder.

During his time at Stadium MK, O'Riley made 54 appearances, scoring ten goals and registering eight assists, a decent return for the then-21-year-old.

This meant that during his first proper transfer window at the club, Martin was keen to bring O'Riley to SA1, but inconceivably, the club's hierarchy didn't believe that the midfielder was worth £1.5million, and passed up the opportunity to sign him.

It was reported by Wales Online that personal terms between O'Riley and Swansea were agreed by the end of the first week of the January transfer window, but the club's owners refused to stump up the cash, and the deal didn't happen.

The Danishman was keen to reunite with Martin and appeared desperate to join, but the failure to pay £1.5million meant MK Dons refused to sell.

Swansea's loss was certainly Celtic's gain and by the middle of January, O'Riley was a Celtic player.

The midfielder has been incredible north of the border and in his two-and-a-half years at Celtic Park, he's made 121 appearances, scoring 27 goals and registering 34 assists.

Had Swansea's owners stumped up the cash, O'Riley would have been a Swansea player, and he could have made a huge impact in South Wales.

Missing out on signing the Celtic man will haunt Swansea, and with Celtic set to make a huge profit if they cashed in on him, Swansea's owners should be kicking themselves.

Swansea would have made a huge profit on Matt O'Riley

O'Riley has attracted transfer interest from West Ham and Atlético Madrid recently, according to Football Insider, and they could be set for a huge windfall if he departs the club this summer.

The midfielder has taken his game to the next level this season, with 37 goal involvements, including three assists in the Champions League, and has received a call-up to the Denmark squad for the first time.

This form has meant that Celtic have slapped a £30 million-plus price tag on him this summer, and it means they'll make a huge profit if he departs in the coming months.

The irony isn't lost on Swansea supporters that they failed to pay £1.5million for O'Riley as it was too expensive, but if they had, they would have been the recipients of a mega transfer fee if and when they decided to sell him.

At 23, O'Riley looks set to go on to achieve big things in the game and it's only a matter of time before he outgrows the Scottish Premiership for one of Europe's top leagues.

Celtic have already turned down a bid from Atlético last January, and with Swansea languishing in mid-table in the Championship, it's hard not to think of what could have been.

Not forking out £1.5 million for Matt O'Riley, a player that Russell Martin was desperate to sign, was a huge mistake, and Swansea have paid the price.