Brighton Take Pole Position in Pursuit of Celtic’s Matt O’Riley as Premier League Interest Heats Up
In a significant development, Brighton have emerged as the front-runners in the race to sign Celtic’s coveted midfielder Matt O’Riley. According to TuttoAtalanta, the Seagulls have initiated “concrete” talks with the Scottish champions, edging closer to securing the 23-year-old Danish star.
As reported earlier, Atalanta had been actively pursuing O’Riley, but their hesitation over meeting Celtic’s valuation may have cost them the opportunity. The Hoops are seeking a fee between £25m and £30m, a price tag that Brighton appears willing to meet. Leicester City and West Ham are also interested, but their reluctance to match Celtic’s asking price has seen them fall behind in the pecking order.
Chelsea, too, have been linked with O’Riley, but there have been no reported talks between the Blues and Celtic. Meanwhile, Atalanta and Juventus have scaled back their interest, with the former now focusing on signing a striker following Gianluca Scamacca’s knee injury.
As the transfer window heats up, all signs point to Brighton leading the charge for O’Riley’s signature. The Seagulls’ willingness to meet Celtic’s demands has put them in pole position, leaving Atalanta and other suitors in their wake. With the clock ticking, it remains to be seen whether Brighton can finalize the deal and bring the talented midfielder to the Amex Stadium.