Peter Grant explains why Celtic’s Matt O’Riley won’t secure a transfer to the English Premier League

Matt O’Riley has been outstanding in Celtic colours this season and is a key reason why Brendan Rodgers’ side are sitting top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Yes, recent results and performances haven’t been anything to shout about, but if it wasn’t for Matt O’Riley, then the team would be fairing a lot worse.

That’s why it was brilliant business from the powers that be to tie down the 23-year-old to a new deal until 2027 in September.

If that door of leaving Celtic ever came about, then Peter Grant thinks that he could see the technically gifted playmaker leaving for a country like Spain and playing in La Liga, instead of the bright lights of the English Premier League, as he told Go Radio.

When Matt O’Riley was coming through Fulham’s academy as a teenager, the £1.5 million signing was briefly coached by Peter Grant.

There is a touch of Celtic DNA that led the Danish star to this path where he is now the best player in Scotland.

Peter Grant shared what was impressive about Matt O’Riley when he was coming through and how he ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if a move to the Premier League doesn’t happen.

Matt O’Riley in Spain and La Liga 

“He is willing to do every day by asking the question, ‘how to get better?’,” said Grant. “As I said to you before, he loves football.

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“If you give him information and he knows the reason why you are telling him this. As a young player, he used to play deeper because he wasn’t good at receiving it and he was too square. He was 16-17. I was bringing him into the U23s then.

“I knew in possession of the ball he was terrific – but one thing is that he is a willing learner.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Matt wasn’t the one who went to the Premier League in England. I know financially (it can be a draw). But maybe would play abroad. If somebody from abroad came in for him. Spain and La Liga, more than anything else.”

Photo by Jan Kruger – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Matt O’Riley going from strength to strength

Look, the defeat to Hearts has put a real dampener on things and then you have the fans calling for the board to be sacked.

Just at the wrong time, things are starting to go towards the wrong direction.

But one positive light is O’Riley, and if Brendan Rodgers is to pick up the team from the deck, then the recently-capped Denmark star is the one who will spark it into life.