Out of all the opinions I have heard on Celtic’s transfer business this season so far, this has to be the most bizarre yet.
Celtic’s players will always be linked with moves away from the club. Especially those who have clear talent.
Because at a club like Celtic, players are given brilliant exposure whether it’s through winning titles and cups or through the Champions League.
It’s the nature of the beast. But what Celtic have ensured this season is that if clubs want their best players then they will have to pay the going rate.
The Parkhead club tied up no less than eight of their first-team stars to new contracts this summer after the departure of Ange Postecoglou to Spurs.
They also knocked back last-minute summer bids for two of their players which makes this claim by Barry Ferguson all the more strange.
Speaking about Matt O’Riley, Ferguson seems to suggest that Celtic could accept £10m if they were offered it in January.
Recent reports in the media suggest that the Celtic midfielder is being targetted by Crystal Palace and Newcastle United so it will take a helluva lot more than £10m to win his signature.
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Ferguson said [The Go Radio Football Show], “It’ll be interesting. Matt O’Riley, who has, probably, been the best Celtic player this season.
“What happens if someone comes in with a £10m bid in January? Do they go and sell him?
“Do they go and replace him? Because I think clubs will be looking at him.
“He never had the best of nights last night [against Lazio], but I think overall, he has been a strong contender for Celtic’s best player this season.”
Matt O’Riley will never leave Celtic for £10m
Considering Celtic knocked back a £10m bid in August before O’Riley signed a new deal, Ferguson’s suggestion looks all the more ridiculous.
O’Riley was also valued at over £12m by a recent football study, again, before he signed a new deal and his recent performances in the Champions League have proven that he is a player who can play at the highest level.
The fact that Ferguson once valued O’Riley at £15m earlier in the season makes this comment even more strange.
It’s almost as if he wants Celtic to sell him. And I don’t blame him. The Danish international has been outstanding helping deliver five trophies out of six in the last two seasons and there is no doubt that he will continue to deliver success as long as he is at the club.
In other news, 24-year-old’s Celtic career looks to be over after what happened in the Champions League last night