Celtic can make transfer statement with one summer decision amid frenzied speculation

Celtic can make transfer statement with one summer decision amid frenzied speculation

Matt O’Riley remains a highly sought-after target this summer.

Celtic have secured some key new signings this summer, including a permanent deal for Adam Idah after he impressed on loan last season. They have also watched some senior players leave the club, like Hyeon-gyu Oh and the retired Joe Hart.

There is still time left before the transfer window closes and the main topic of conversation doing the rounds remains the future of Matt O’Riley. Following his impressive 2023/24 season, which saw him contribute 19 goals and 18 assists in all competitions, a number of clubs have registered their interest in signing him this summer.

Atalanta and Brighton and Hove Albion have been the leading candidates in recent weeks and the latter has now tabled an official bid to Celtic for their star midfielder. The Hoops have already rejected five offers from Atalanta, including the latest of £21.5 million plus add-ons.

Deadline Day is fast approaching but there is still time for Celtic to agree on the right price for O’Riley, if they choose to cash in. If Brendan Rodgers and co manage to keep hold of the 23-year-old though, it will be a huge statement from Celtic.

That’s according to former Scotland international James McFadden, who has stressed the importance of keeping a player of O’Riley’s calibre at Celtic Park. The playmaker is part of the preferred midfield trio in Rodgers’ engine room, alongside Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate.

“If they get to the end of the window and he stays, what a statement that is,” McFadden told Open Goal. “If that midfield three stays fit, you’re not getting a better option than those three. You can get someone who can come in and help them and sometimes make a change, but if you keep the three of them you’ll not get someone who is going to come in and put them out of the team.”

The last bid the Hoops received from Atalanta may have soured their interest in signing O’Riley at all. A new report from Football Italia has claimed that the Serie A side have ‘lost patience’ in their pursuit after yet another bid fell short of what Celtic are looking for.

Celtic could land dream signing for Idah in swoop for “invisible” £10m star

Celtic will be competing in the quarter-final of the League Cup later this year after they beat Scottish Premiership rivals Hibernian 3-1 at Parkhead on Sunday.

The Hoops had already beaten their cup opponents in the top-flight the previous weekend at Easter Road, with goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Callum McGregor securing the win.

Daizen Maeda was tasked with leading the line in the League Cup tie on Sunday and struck twice inside the opening 20 minutes to put his side 2-0 up, before Kuhn scored against them for the second time in as many games to make it 2-0.

One good moment from the second half was the reception the Parkhead crowd gave Adam Idah when the striker came on as a substitute to make his second debut for the club.

The Ireland international recently joined the Bhoys on a permanent deal from Norwich City for a reported fee of £8.5m with a further £1m in add-ons.

He did not get himself a goal in that cameo but it was a little run-out to re-introduce himself to the crowd after his loan spell in Glasgow during the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Adam Idah’s loan form for Celtic

It is fair to say that Idah did not arrive at Celtic to much fanfare when the club announced his arrival on a loan from the Canaries at the end of the winter transfer window earlier this year.

The 23-year-old attacker had only scored 17 goals and provided four assists in 115 appearances for Norwich as a centre-forward, which may not have filled supporters with bounds of excitement.

However, you should never judge a player before they have played for their new team and Idah quickly showed that his goalscoring record with the Yellows may have been more to do with his situation there, being behind Teemu Pukki and then Josh Sargent in the pecking order, rather than his quality.

The 6 foot 3 marksman produced an assist on his debut as a substitute against Aberdeen, teeing up Kuhn for an equaliser in a 1-1 draw, and then scored twice in a 2-1 win over Hibernian on his full debut in the next match.

23/24 Premiership

Adam Idah

Appearances

15

Starts

5

Goals

8

Big chances missed

7

Conversion rate

27%

Minutes per goal

76

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Idah went on to rack up eight goals in 15 appearances in the Premiership, despite only starting five of those games.

The Irish forward proved that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis in the Scottish top-flight, using his physicality, his movement, and his quality in front of goal to be a constant threat to opposition defences.

Idah also popped up in big moments for the club with a goal in a 3-3 draw with Rangers and a 90th-minute winner in the League Cup final against the Gers at Hampden Park.

Hopefully, the Norwich academy graduate will now enjoy a successful time at the club on a permanent basis and Brendan Rodgers could make a dream signing for Idah by swooping for one of Celtic’s reported transfer targets.

Celtic’s interest in MLS magician

Earlier this month, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph claimed that the Hoops have Philadelphia Union central midfielder Daniel Gazdag on their radar.

The reporter claimed that the Bhoys have a list of targets to improve their midfield options, potentially to replace Matt O’Riley if he moves on before the end of the month, and the MLS star was one of three named.

Southampton’s Shea Charles and Venezia’s Tanner Tessmann are the other two players who are said to be on the shortlist alongside Gazdag.

The summer transfer window slams shut at the end of this month and this means that the Scottish giants have less than two weeks to get a deal done for a new midfielder.

Sky Sports went on to post an update on Celtic’s pursuit of Gazdag, as they revealed that Turkish side Trabzonspor have held talks over a potential swoop for the Hungary international.

The outlet added that it would also take an offer in the region of £10m to tempt Union into parting ways with the midfield magician this summer.

Why Daniel Gazdag would be a dream for Adam Idah

The 28-year-old star would be a dream for Idah at Parkhead because he is a quality midfielder who can create chances for his teammates whilst also providing a goal threat.

Gazdag produced 1.4 key passes per game and created four ‘big chances’ in 19 starts in the MLS this year, having made 1.7 key passes per match and assisted six goals in 35 outings in 2023.

His creativity has been on show in the Leagues Cup over the last month or so, with three assists – and one goal – in five appearances in the competition.

These statistics show that the right-footed whiz has the quality to be an excellent provider from the middle of the park, which means that he could create plenty of chances for Idah to find the back of the net at Parkhead this season.

Another reason why Gazdag would be a dream signing for the Irishman is that he is a terrific goalscorer from midfield, and that could take a lot of the pressure off the striker to be a consistent scorer – particularly in his first full year at the club when patience may be required.

Daniel Gazdag

2023 MLS

2024 MLS

Appearances

35

21

xG

14.68

13.07

Goals

15

14

xA

6.32

2.66

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Hungarian maestro has fired in an eye-catching 29 goals in 56 appearances in the MLS since the start of 2023, from a central midfield position.

This shows that the Union star, who was described as being “invisible” in the way he ghosts into goalscoring positions by manager Jim Curtin, can provide a huge threat in the final third for the Hoops if he can translate that form over to Scotland.

Therefore, Gazdag would be a dream signing for Idah due to the creativity he could bring to the table to create chances for the striker, as well as the pressure the £10m-rated ace could take off the forward with his goalscoring quality.

What Matt O’Riley has told Celtic as Brighton open talks for club-record deal

EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC understands that Brighton have opened talks with Celtic over a deal for midfielder Matt O’Riley.

The Premier League club are looking to push forward and thrash out a deal for the 23-year-old Denmark international.

HITC understands that personal terms have already been discussed and are agreed in principle. Both clubs are now in negotiations over a fee for the midfielder.

Brighton have already submitted an offer for O’Riley this summer but the Seagulls have returned to try and finalise an agreement.

Brighton are confident they are now in pole position for his signature after Atalanta dropped out of the race for O’Riley by refusing to meet their demands. Instead, they struck a £17million deal for Lazar Samardzic.

Matt O’Riley’s stance on leaving Celtic

Despite the interest in his signature, Matt O’Riley has played a part in all three of Celtic‘s matches so far this season, including their 3-1 win over Hibernian on Sunday afternoon.

However, HITC is told that O’Riley has made it clear to Celtic that he wants the chance to leave this month.

Celtic rejected two offers from Atalanta for O’Riley worth around £15million as they were holding out for a bigger fee.

It is understood the Glasgow giants want a club-record fee of £25million plus an additional £5million in add-ons to part ways with O’Riley.

O’Riley has a contract at Celtic Park until 2027 so they are under no pressure to lower their asking price.

Brendan Rodgers told to make 2 Celtic transfer moves but heir to Scott Brown’s throne is at Parkhead right now

Celtic transfer moves have been made already this summer.

A Celtic legend says two positions in particular should be targeted this summer window – but a Scott Brown-style player is already in the ranks.

Frank McAvennie has been watching on this summer, with his former side signing four players in Viljami Sinisalo, Kasper Schmeichel, Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah. Boss Brendan Rodgers wants more before the end of the window though with the likes of Liverpool’s Ben Doak and Dundee’s Luke McCowan linked.

Ex-striker McAvennie believes a midfielder is one area needing bolstered, but he believes current enforcer Tomoki Iwata can play a role similar to what former captain Scott Brown did at Parkhead. He told Football Insider: “I don’t know about him (McCowan).

“Kuhn has come in so he’s that right-wing option, Matt (O’Riley) is is playing central midfield, further up the park. I would still like to see a number six coming in and just holding. Scott Brown and the Australian boy Aaron Mooy who both did a good job for the club.

“I was hoping Iwata would be that and I think Brendan (Rodgers) is looking at that because he’s a good player. He doesn’t lose the ball and he doesn’t mind putting his foot in so I think he could develop into the player that the club need.”

Liam Scales has been the centre-back of choice alongside mainstay Cameron Carter-Vickers. McAvennie reckons another player is needed for the heart of defence, adding: “He’s come in and he hasn’t let Celtic down. For me as a striker, I notice things and he gets too close to the strikers and if somebody gets too close to me I turn them, I can turn them easily.

“He’s got to learn when to go close and when to hang off. But he’s only young, he’s going to learn but I do think we should get a good centre-back in to replace him. We’ve got plenty of games so he will still get a lot of game time.

“I just don’t think he’s ready for the step up yet but that’s not to say that he won’t be six months down the line, a year down the line. At the moment he’s all we’ve got (Maik) Nawrocki keeps getting injured. He’s a good player, you don’t become a Polish international unless you’re a good player but I still think we should bring someone in.”

Celtic linked with free transfer move for Ireland striker

Celtic are reportedly keeping tabs on Ireland Internationalist Aaron Connolly. The ex-Brighton forward is available after his contract at Championship side Hull City expired.

According to Football Scotland, Brendan Rodgers is keeping an eye on the availability of the 24-year-old.

It remains to be seen whether Celtic would sanction a move for a player with the profile of Connolly. Given that he’s spent the vast majority of his playing career in England, he would likely have wage expectations that would make a deal unrealistic given his role.

Celtic signed Adam Idah in a deal worth £9.5m last week but the Irishman started from the bench with Daizen Maeda leading the line in the win over Hibs. Kyogo was sidelined with an injury to his shoulder but it appears that the club are comfortable using Maeda through the middle when required.

The manager of the Champions has said that he would like to have three striking options with two first pick players supplemented by a third player for development. Given that Connolly is a year older than Idah, it is unlikely that he would fall into the category of a development player.

Clubs line up to sign former Celtic £25m export

A number of clubs are vying to sign former Celtic star Jota in the final weeks of the transfer window. The 25-year-old has struggled since swapping Scotland for Saudi and it appears that both he and Al Ittihad are keen for parties to part ways.

Reports from France have suggested that a number of teams are keen on the player, namely Rennes and Marseille. However, the major stumbling block for any suitor is the attacker’s wage packet, which is reportedly close to £200k.

🚨 Marseille and Stade Rennais are both targeting a deal to sign Jota from Al-Ittihad. 🇵🇹

(Source: @MohamedTERParis) pic.twitter.com/VOs2XP2Rgw

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 19, 2024

French outlet SportZone claims that Wolves and Sporting Lisbon are vying for the signature of the player with Jorge Mendes pulling the strings.
Jota has made just 22 appearances in all competitions in Saudi, scoring four goals and assisting once. The form and (lack of) adulation in the Saudi Pro League is a far cry from his time at Celtic, where he produced extraordinary moments in the Hoops. During a recent meeting with Celtic fans in Lisbon, Jota said that he wasn’t sure but that he loved Celtic when asked if he was coming back.

During two years in Glasgow, Jota 83 appearances for Celtic as they won five trophies. In those games, he scored 28 goals and assisted on 26 occasions, which resulted in links to a number of clubs.

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

Motherwell signing plans chat with Celtic boss Rodgers after prior praise as Rangers hero provides move advice

Tawanda Maswanhise | Motherwell Times

He has signed for Motherwell after time at Leicester City.

Tawanda Maswanhise hopes to catch a word with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers after his move to Motherwell – as he opens up on the potential of an extended Fir Park stay.

The attacker impressed off the bench against Kilmarnock in a 1-0 Premier Sports Cup last 16 win on Sunday, providing a cross for Moses Ebiye to head an extra-time winner home. He joins Stuart Kettlewell’s team after time in the Leicester City academy, where Celtic boss Rodgers was impressed during his time in charge of the Foxes.

Rodgers said in 2021 after including him in his Premier League squad for a match against Man Utd: “He’s a young player I like. I’ve seen him playing for the Under-18s. He’s quick, he’s direct. He’s got a lot of strengths and he’s got a lot of potential, but a lot of work to do.

“Bringing in young players, like we’ve done with Luke before, it gives them the experience. To feel the preparation, to sit on the bench, to see the quality of the players, it gives him a flavour of the level and preparation he needs to be here. That was the idea.”

Motherwell don’t face Celtic until October but Maswanhise wants to show his ex-gaffer how much he has improved while in claret and amber. He said: “I was always in and out but it was good when I was getting coached by Brendan. He taught me a lot to be fair.

“I’ll have a word with him. Hopefully it’s positive and a little catch-up would be nice. I was a young 18-year-old when he brought me into the team and now I am 21. I am a lot faster, stronger and a bit smarter.”

Another helpful voice in helping him get a handle on life at Motherwell was Calvin Bassey. The defender joined Rangers fresh out the Foxes academy, going on to become an Ibrox favourite on their run to the 2022 Europa League final. Rangers then sold him in a deal worth almost £23m to Ajax.

Maswanhise said: “I am good mates with Calvin and his story was quite good. His journey, did well at Rangers, got his move, but it’s been good so far. (He told me) be aware of the shouting from behind, the grief, the physicality here is quite strong. I’ll get used to it.”

Kettlewell was impressed by the forward in bounce matches and training, before handing him a six-month deal with the option to extend. When asked if he wanted to stay at Fir Park past his initial terms, Maswanhise left that in the hands of the manager, as he opened up on his move and a tough introduction in a friendly vs Everton.

He added: “It’s the gaffer’s choice. If he wants to keep me in the team, I want to assist and score goals etc. Hopefully that can go through. It’s been a long process over the summer, training by myself. It’s not been easy coming in, going into full-time after having a big break. But it’s been good, I’ve been keeping up with the lads and getting to know them as well. It’s been good.

“There was a friendly against Everton last week. I got the call the night before the game, playing against top Premier League players. Idrissa Gana Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucouré just running me about, but got there in the end!

“I don’t think Scotland was in mind. I wanted to stay in England, but the options were getting wider as the transfer window opened. My first day or night was that first game so it was a nice welcome. All the players are nice. It’s been good, nobody has given me grief yet so hopefully it stays like this.”

Celtic transfer news bulletin as Matt O’Riley replacement lined up and Hoops ready to resist late Hatate swoops

The latest on O’Riley as Brighton accelerate their interest in the Celtic playmaker

Celtic are braced for Matt O’Riley’s exit after Brighton ramped up the bidding war for the Parkhead playmaker – and they have a contingency plan in place if he does leave.

The English Premier League outfit have made their move to open talks over a £25m plus move for the Denmark international. Celtic won’t allow O’RIley to leave on the cheap after seeing off several attempts rom Serie A Atalanta – with the Italians eventually giving up the chase following a final bid of around £20m. Brighton will have no problems meeting the asking price and the Hoops understand it will be difficult if the 23-year-old is sweet on the switch.

O’Riley has insisted he is in no hurry to leave Celts but has long term ambitions of playing in one of Europe’s major leagues, having already attracted serious attention from Italy, Spain and Germany. Several other clubs in England are also in the hunt but Fabian Hurzeler’s Seagulls have shot to the front of the queue with less than a fortnight remaining in the window. Celts have been anticipating a major move for the star man – and have several alternatives lined up if the midfielder does depart.

Augsburg sensation Arne Engels is near the top of the list and the Hoops have already held tentative talks with representatives of the 20-year-old – who could cost up to £10m. Parkhead chiefs won’t baulk at the fee having already coughed up £8.5m up front for Adam Idah to return to Glasgow, with boss Brendan Rodgers admitted he is determined to channel his transfer kitty into quality rather than quantity.

The Irishman is also looking to hold on to other key men in his squad and the club are looking to resist any offers this summer for Reo Hatate, despite talk down south of interest from Leicester City. The Japan star also has long term hopes of playing in England but is understood to be focused on building his fitness this term after an injury hit campaign last time out. Meanwhile Hoops defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is looking to maintain Celtic’s blistering start to the season and fight for a clean sweep this term.

The USA cap was part of the Treble winning side under Ange Postecoglou and bounce back from injury to claim the Double last time out. Celts roared into the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup wit their win against Hibs at the weekend and Carter-Vickers is out to add the trophy to his collection after missing out 12 months ago.

He said: “Obviously, last season was disappointing in this competition, but every season you want to win every competition. The aims are no different to what they were last season or previous seasons, but it’s definitely one that we want to win this year.

“I think we’re definitely capable of more. We’ve started well, it’s kind of been a continuation from pre-season, but hopefully as the season goes on and we continue to work together, we’ll improve and get better. I

“It’s all good doing it in the first three, four, five games, but I think the key is consistency. If we can maintain that level and improve a little bit throughout the season, then that would be great.”

Carter-Vickers has been thrilled by Celtic’s blistering start to the campaign but warned there is more to come from Rodgers’s men.

He said: “I think so. Our performance so far have been good, as well as the ones in pre-season. It’s early, so for us it’s just about continuing to try to work and try to improve. That’s what we’ve been doing so far, and if we continue doing that we’ll be in a good place.

“Since it’s the manager’s second year now, I think it’s only natural that the more time he gets with the group, the more he can implement the way he wants to play and the way he wants to train and work.

“I think we’re in a good place. We haven’t had any injuries yet, we’re just continuing to crack away and try to get better.”

 

Celtic midfielder Daniel Kelly will move to Millwall this week, with a fee now agreed between the two clubs.

According to the Daily Record, Kelly is set to move to the Lions despite being offered a new deal to stay. Brendan Rodgers is believed to have been willing to increase the teenager’s wages by £5,000 per week, but that won’t be enough to convince him to stay in the SPFL.

It was revealed earlier this week he had agreed a move to Millwall in January. “Dan has agreed to join the club. A deal has been agreed and he has signed. He officially joins us in January,” Lions boss Neil Harris said on Tuesday. “He is a young player that we think has got huge potential. He is a very good player. When Dan first walks into the building he is not going to be someone that everyone should expect to go straight into the team.”

Instead, he’s now set to move to London this week, where the struggling Lions will pay around £400,000 plus add-ons to secure his early release. While the youngster signed a pre-contract with Neil Harris’s side this week with a view to a January move, he was set to play out the rest of his contract in the Lowland League with Celtic B. Millwall now want to speed up the process, hence the freshly-agreed terms.

After a tough start to the season, Harris clearly feels he needs the player sooner rather than later. It’s reported he is now in London, with a medical scheduled for the next couple of days. Representatives of the Lions are hoping that Kelly will be able to face Hull City in the Championship next weekend.

It’s been a frustrating summer for the player. He came through the youth ranks at Parkhead and has played for Scotland’s Under 19 side, but he turned down a fresh deal and was farmed out to play for their B team. This came after he broke into the first team picture last season, scoring in the 7-1 victory against Dundee in February.

Writer’s View

Kelly is a special talent who has had to make a big decision around his future. Hailing from East Kilbride, you could be forgiven for thinking that Celtic and Scotland would be the best place for him to develop, but he’s seemingly set on the bottom end of the Championship with Millwall.

They’ve made a big call also. £400,000 is not a small amount of money for a player they would have got much cheaper in January, but Harris might be a manager under pressure right now, given their poor start to the season. Perhaps he sees the central midfielder as a key part of his battle against relegation, which is where it feels the Lions might be fighting this season.

Millwall are now set to have a medical for Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga, according to a report from Football Insider. The Spurs defender was recalled from his loan spell at German club Augsburg today and is now set to spend the remainder of the campaign at Millwall after a…