Neil Lennon has stressed the importance of the club retaining midfielder Matt O’Riley, at least until the summer.
Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates scoring their first goal with teammate Matt O’Riley REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
O’Riley, 22, recently extended his contract with Celtic, securing his stay at Parkhead until 2027.
Under Brendan Rodgers this season, O’Riley has excelled, contributing nine goals and eight assists, which has attracted the attention of many top clubs.
Speaking to Ladbrokes Fanzone, Lennon praised O’Riley’s significant impact, highlighting his outstanding performances both in domestic competitions and in Europe. He pointed out O’Riley’s excellent assists in the Champions League, showing he can do it at the very top level.
Despite acknowledging that there might be substantial offers for O’Riley, Lennon believes Celtic is in a strong position to resist any transfers in the January window. He anticipates that while Rodgers might look to trim the squad in other areas, keeping O’Riley at least until the end of the season should be a priority.
He said (quoted by the Glasgow Times):
“Matt O’Riley has had a huge impact on the team this season, he’s been magnificent in all areas; wherever I’ve watched him, be it domestically or in Europe… he’s been excellent.
“His three assists in the Champions League were out of this world, and his game has just improved no end.
“Under Brendan [Rodgers], he’s scoring a lot of goals, and creating so many opportunities for the team.
“He’s always a threat, and he’s got a real knack of making those late runs into the box, undetected.
“He’s a fantastic talent, and he’s been a brilliant bit of business for the club.
“The priority, for the club, is to keep hold of him. Particularly in January. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of offers coming in for him, but I think the club are in a position to stay strong in the January window.
“I do think that Brendan will want to trim the squad in other areas, but I’m sure O’Riley will stay until the end of the season… at least that’s what I’m hoping for, anyway!”
He’s a top player and there’s no surprise Celtic will be expecting a record-breaking fee when the time does come for him to leave.
