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Aston Villa want title-winning £26m midfielder who ‘glides about the pitch’

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Aston Villa want title-winning £26m midfielder who ‘glides about the pitch’

Aston Villa have reportedly set their sights on Celtic’s Matt O’Riley ahead of the January transfer window.

The Villans are flying high in the Premier League and in Europe, and could well look to bolster their ranks further in January to maintain their momentum.

According to Sky Sports, Villa are one of several teams that have been watching O’Riley with a view to a potential approach.

As well as the Villans, the likes of West Ham, PSV Eindhoven, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan are reportedly eyeing the midfielder.

The Sky Sports report claims Inter are prepared to offer an initial loan until the end of the season with an obligation to buy him in the summer.

In terms of price tag, Fabrizio Romano previously claimed that any team wishing to sign O’Riley would have to break the Scottish transfer record.

This currently stands at £25million, the fee Celtic received when they sold Portuguese winger Jota to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad in the summer.

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Aston Villa one of multiple teams in pursuit of Matt O’Riley

Villa have struck gold multiple times in the transfer market this year, and O’Riley would be another outstanding addition to the claret-and-blue ranks.

The 23-year-old is on nine goals and eight assists for the season so far, an especially great tally when you consider he’s a central midfielder.

Furthermore, three of his assists have come in the Champions League, showing how apt he is at the highest level.

In October, Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd backed O’Riley to be “one of the next ones to go in terms of big money” from the Scottish top flight.

Boyd said on Sky Sports: “You could sit and watch Matt O’Riley play football all day. He’s a top-class player.

“He glides about the pitch and Brendan Rodgers has obviously asked him to get forward more this season. He is reaping the benefits of that.”

Villa – or any other suitors – would likely be looking at £26million and over for O’Riley.

It’s a fairly hefty price tag, but considering Declan Rice went for over £100million, it goes to show that an elite midfielder is worth his weight in gold. And O’Riley has the makings of one.

At the same time, the reigning Scottish champions only have a two-point lead at the top over second-placed Rangers, who have a game in hand. They may refuse to sell O’Riley until the summer at least.

Transfer Latest – Celtic eye Ipswich’s Czechia keeper Vaclav Hladky

Celtic have been linked with former St Mirren goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky as the shot-stopper nears the end of his contract. The Czech Republic star is currently at high-flying Ipswich Town in the English Championship and Kieran McKenna is eager to get the ex-Buddies man tied down on fresh terms as they bid to get promotion to the Premier League.

Vaclav Hladky

It’s no secret that the Bhoys will need a new netminder soon as Joe Hart enters the final months of his contract and will be 37 in any case. Joe has been a great servant to the club but I think we can all agree the time has come for him to step down from the number one position at the club and give a younger, fresher body a chance at the role. With Benjamin Seigrist and Scott Bain on the books, Brendan Rodgers will need to move someone on before he signs a new ‘keeper.

Vaclav Hladky

The club have been linked with various shot-stoppers as they try and succession plan for Joe’s potential retirement or if he decides to just move on from Celtic Park and remain in the game somewhere else. Andriy Lunin of Real Madrid has been strongly linked with a move to the Scottish Premiership Champions and there have been links to Kilmarnock loan star, Will Dennis too, although Rodgers has admitted he doesn’t see it as a priority this coming transfer window.

Vaclav Hladky

Czech media publication iSPORT have reported that the Hoops have reignited interest in his services and say the sources are from Scotland too. The 33-year-old will be free to speak to potential suitors next month and whilst Celtic do retain an interest, the goalkeeper may view it as his last shot at the big time of the English Premier League and the wages that could be on offer there. However, nothing is set in stone and Ipswich still need to get there so this could also play on his mind. If Celtic win the Scottish League this year it’s direct entry into the UEFA Champions League group stages which is also a very attractive proposition.

Vaclav Hladky

This one might have some substance to it…

Paul Gillespie.

I’m a Garngad Bhoy through and through. My first ever Celtic game was a friendly against Italian side Parma at Celtic Park, in 2002. Currently a student of English Literature and Education at the University of Strathclyde for my sins.

Favourite game would be a toss up between beating Manchester United with that Naka freekick, or the game against the Oldco when Hesselink scored in the dying seconds. I’m still convinced Cal Mac is wasted playing that far back.

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