Brendan Rodgers ‘keen’ to ship out 3 Celtic stars as trio of transfer exits set for manager’s green light

Brendan Rodgers ‘keen’ to ship out 3 Celtic stars as trio of transfer exits set for manager’s green light

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers. | Getty Images

Celtic have until the end of the month to complete more deals

Celtic will ‘enter’ the market for a centre-back this summer if they are able to offload some fringe players, according to Sky Sports. The Hoops may not be finished on the transfer front just yet as they eye more additions.

Brendan Rodgers’ side begun the new 2024/25 season with a 4-0 home win over Kilmarnock. Reo Hatate, Liam Scales, Nicholas Kuhn and Anthony Ralston were all on the scoresheet at Celtic Park as they picked up all three points.

In this latest update on Celtic’s recruitment, Sky Sports claim they have told KV Mechelen that Stephen Welsh is ‘not available’ at this stage. The Belgian Pro League side are keen on take the centre-back on loan but the Hoops aren’t prepared to lose him right now.

Welsh, who is 24-years-old, provides strong competition and depth at the back. He is also under contract until the summer of 2027.

The former Scotland youth international has been on the books of the Glasgow outfit for his whole career to date and rose up through their academy ranks. He has made 66 appearances in all competitions and has chipped in with four goals, as well as having a loan spell away at Greenock Morton as a youngster to get some experience under his belt.

Sky Sports’ report also suggests Celtic are ‘willing’ to listen to offers for Maik Nawrocki, as well as  Gustaf Lagerbielke and Yuki Kobayashi. Fellow Scottish Premiership side St Mirren are said to be keen on the latter, whilst Lagerbielke apparently has admirers in Italy.

Nawrocki moved over to Scotland 12 months ago but hasn’t been able to make the impact he would have wanted to. Prior to his move, he spent a couple of years in Poland for Legia Warsaw and was a key player there.

He progressed up through the youth ranks of local side Werder Bremen but didn’t quite make the grade in the Bundesliga. The player was born in Germany but has represented Poland at international youth level in the past.

Lagerbielke also joined the Hoops last year but hasn’t lived up to expectations. He hasn’t been able to nail down a regular place in Rodgers’ side and a chance of scene could do him good to rebuild his confidence.

The 24-year-old had been playing in Scandinavia prior to his move to Celtic Park for the likes of AIK, Sollentuna FK, Vasteres SK and IF Elfsborg.

As for Kobayashi, it was announced that he would be joining Celtic back in the winter of 2022 after catching the eye at Vissel Kobe. The Japanese defender needs to be playing regular football at the age of 24 and offloading him in some capacity would suit all parties involved.

Rodgers has recently shared this update on transfers: “We still have work to do but, with transfers, there are lots of moving parts. It’s never as easy as just seeing a player and bringing him in. We’d hope by the end of August we will have the team supported in the way we wanted. It’s so important that you don’t snooze in this game of football.”

Kasper Schmeichel hasn’t taken long to settle himself into Celtic, already becoming one of the key leaders of the Bhoys dressing room.

Signing on a free transfer during the summer after a spell with Anderlecht last season, the Danish goalkeeper has already impressed in pre-season and on his competitive debut against Kilmarnock.

The best is yet to come from the veteran shot-stopper, who has filled the void left by Joe Hart’s retirement at the end of last season.

It’s not just fans who are enthused about his arrival but the Celtic players too.

Schmeichel is already a popular member of the squad and isn’t letting his new signing status get in the way of dressing down a few established regulars when need be.

Callum McGregor on Kasper Schmeichel

Celtic captain Callum McGregor explained [Daily Record]: “We’ve had a couple of chats already. We spent a good bit of time over in America together and after just five minutes I knew he was on the level. He has had a hugely successful career but he still wants to achieve.

“He’s an experienced goalkeeper but after just a few minutes I could tell what he was about. He’s a proper character. You can tell that just by having a conversation with him but it’s also when you get on the pitch you see what people are like. When we played against Man City there was a moment when he berated Matt O’Riley.

“When you talk about demanding the most out of the players, that was an example of the type of thing I’m talking about. It’s about standards and behaviours. If you concede a shot you care about it. You take it personally and that’s what builds, a winning culture. But he’s probably made four or five really top saves already.

“So we know we have a top goalkeeper with the personality to go with it. Because if there is one thing you need at Celtic’s it’s personality to go and play. It can be a tough place to play football and you need that personality behind you and he has got that in spades.”

Schmeichel already part of the Celtic leadership core

McGregor went on to explain that, alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, Greg Taylor and Alistair Johnston, Schmeichel is already a key leadership voice within the squad that helps make his job easier as captain.

That’s crucial as Celtic push for success on four fronts this season. It has to be a group effort with responsibilities and burdens shared rather than put on the shoulders of one or two people.

As a goalkeeper, Schmeichel is likely to prove an effective enough signing – but with all his other attributes he could become a really important part of this team.

Celtic could land dream signing for Hatate in swoop for £7m star

Celtic have less than a month left in the summer transfer window to finish off any other business they want to do before it slams shut at the end of August.

The Hoops only added one outfield player to their squad during the off-season and it was a star who was already at the club on loan last term – Paulo Bernardo.

Brendan Rodgers has also swooped to sign two new goalkeepers to replace Joe Hart, who retired at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, in Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.

Despite the club’s lack of activity in the transfer market over the last few months, the Bhoys started the new season in impressive fashion with a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Sunday.

That win may not stop Celtic from continuing to explore deals for new signings over the coming weeks, though, as Rodgers looks to build a side that can compete across all fronts domestically and in the Champions League.

One player the Hoops could sign is a Premier League starlet who has been linked with a move to Parkhead this summer, as he could be a dream signing for Reo Hatate in midfield.

Celtic’s interest in Premier League dynamo

Last month, Tunisian radio station Mosaïque FM, as relayed by Sport Witness, claimed that the Scottish giants are one of the teams interested in a deal to snap up Manchester United central midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.

The report stated that Celtic are keen to sign the Tunisia international to bolster their squad and that they are preparing an offer for his services.

It also revealed that the Premier League giants are prepared to sanction a permanent exit for the academy graduate, whose contract at Old Trafford is due to expire at the end of the season.

The outlet did not claim how much Celtic are willing to pay for the midfielder or how much the Red Devils would want for the talented ace this summer.

However, it has been reported elsewhere that Rangers are also keen on a deal for the Tunisian dynamo and that United would be looking for a fee of at least £7m.

Former Manchester United striker and legend Andy Cole has urged Hannibal to consider a move to Scotland to play for one of Glasgow’s clubs, as it would be an “interesting” next step in his career.

Celtic must now press ahead with a swoop for the midfield talent as he could be a dream alongside Hatate in midfield, particularly if Matt O’Riley moves on amid reported interest from West Ham United and Chelsea.

Reo Hatate’s midfield brilliance

The Japan international started the 2024/25 campaign in perfect style with a fantastic performance in the middle of the park against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

He opened the scoring for the Hoops with a brilliantly composed touch and finish around the edge of the box, drilling the ball into the bottom left corner under little pressure due to the quality of his first touch.

It was an impressively clean goal and that summed up his performance on the day, as Hatate completed 81% of his passes, 100% of his dribbles, and won five of his nine ground duels.

The 26-year-old star will be hoping for a strong season after his struggles last term. He missed a staggering 40 matches through injury for club and country, with calf and hamstring issues.

However, his form in limited matches last season and his superb performances in the 2022/23 campaign suggest that he could be ready for a huge season for Celtic if he can stay fit.

Reo Hatate

22/23 Premiership

23/24 Premiership

Appearances

32

16

Goals

6

3

Assists

8

4

Big chances created

10

3

Key passes per game

1.3

1.1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Hatate is a central midfielder who can pop up with important contributions at the top end of the pitch as a scorer and a creator of goals.

The Japanese whiz, when fit and available for selection, is an exciting player to watch who can make things happen in the final third at an impressive rate, as illustrated with his superb goal against Kilmarnock.

Due to that, he could love to play alongside Hannibal due to the midfielder’s dynamism and creative potential in the middle of the park as a possible signing for Celtic.

Why Celtic should sign Hannibal

Firstly, signing the Manchester United youngster for £7m, or a lower fee if they can negotiate a deal, this summer would be an investment by the club.

At the age of 21, Hannibal is a young player with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve his game over the years to come, which means that Rodgers could work with him on the training pitch and help to make him a more valuable asset in the future.

Last season was a difficult for one for him, as it was for Hatate, as he only made five appearances in the Premier League for United and played six games in LaLiga on loan at Sevilla.

The previous campaign, however, was more impressive from the young ace as he spent the year on loan with Birmingham City in the English Championship.

Hannibal vs midfielders

22/23 Championship

Per 90

Percentile rank

Assists

0.23

Top 7%

Expected Assisted Goals

0.18

Top 10%

Shot-creating actions

3.14

Top 24%

Tackles

2.31

Top 27%

Interceptions

1.20

Top 25%

Blocks

1.20

Top 44%

Stats via FBRef

As you can see in the table above, Hannibal caught the eye was a creative and combative force in midfield for Birmingham across 38 games in the division.

He proved that his academy form for United at U23 level could translate over to senior football, after his return of 17 assists in 41 matches for the Red Devils’ U23s.

Hannibal, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed can “unlock defenders” with his ability on the ball, has the quality to make things happen as a superb creator from midfield.

St Mirren interested in signing Celtic defender

St Mirren are considering a move for Celtic’s Yuki Kobayashi. The 24-year-old has been out of the first team picture since the beginning of last season and the club appear to be proactive in finding him a new club.

Now, Sky Sports are reporting that the Paisley club are interested in the player. Stephen Robinson’s side have European ambitions and are reportedly keen on bringing in in the Japanese defender.

Kobayashi, who hasn’t featured in a Matchday squad since the win over Rangers at Ibrox in September 2023, is still training around the first team. The player is below Gustaf Lagerbielke, who appears to be himself surplus to requirements under Brendan Rodgers, and below Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki, who have deputised for Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers this season.

After arriving from Vissel Kobe, Kobayashi made just seven appearances and appeared increasingly uneasy with the pace and physical nature of Scottish football. It was telling that Ange decided to go with Tomoki Iwata over Kobayashi in the Scottish Cup Final after a poor showing at Ibrox by Kobayashi.

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.

Matt O’Riley ‘Happy’ to Join Southampton From Celtic

Southampton’s bid to bring Celtic star Matt O’Riley has been up and down throughout the transfer market, with the Saints persisting in their efforts to land the Denmark international despite interest coming and going from other clubs throughout the Premier League. And they could be ready to steal a march in their move for the midfielder, with Radio Solent’s Adam Blackmore telling BBC Radio that O’Riley is ‘happy’ to come to the Saints ahead of a busy year in the top-flight.

O’Riley was subject to offers and interest from European giants Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan in January, and whilst nothing came to fruition, that hasn’t seen interest wane in his talents in the summer.

Serie A side Atalanta have made offers for him throughout the summer as they prepare for the exit of Teun Koopmeiners, before Southampton lodged a bid and Leicester City, West Ham United and Brighton have noted their interest in the £25m-rated star. But Blackmore believes that O’Riley could be set for a move to the south coast, claiming that he is ‘happy’ to move to the south coast.

O’Riley Happy to Move to Celtic

The Denmark star could be on his way to the Premier League

Speaking to BBC Radio, Blackmore stated that Celtic needed to ‘hurry up’ and make their minds up over O’Riley’s exit – with the midfielder happy to move down south. He said:

O’Riley enjoyed a superb year for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, scoring 18 goals and registering 13 assists in a hugely successful season for the club as they registered a domestic double by winning the league title and the Scottish Cup in a great start to life for Brendan Rodgers in his second spell in Glasgow.

Matt O’Riley’s Scottish Premiership statistics – Celtic squad ranking

Stats

Output

Squad rank

Appearances

37

=2nd

Goals

18

1st

Assists

13

1st

Shots Per Game

2.9

1st

Key Passes Per Game

2.5

1st

Match rating

7.74

1st

And alongside three assists in just six Champions League games for a side that were largely under the cosh, O’Riley has shown that he can do it on the big stage even when on the back foot.

Southampton Need Midfield Recruits

The Saints’ creative ranks have diminished

Southampton are in need of a creative force this summer. David Brooks, Joe Rothwell and Ryan Fraser’s loan spells have all expired and Stuart Armstrong left the club on a free transfer, which has hugely decimated their playmaking options.

Despite re-signing Flynn Downes on a permanent transfer from West Ham United to the tune of £18million, alongside capturing an emotional return for Adam Lallana after a decade of hiatus for the homegrown star, it left just Joe Aribo, Carlos Alcaraz and Will Smallbone as their only other creative midfield options and with Russell Martin preferring to play exciting, attacking football, O’Riley would be the final piece in the jigsaw with the club looking to stay up come the end of next season.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: O’Riley grew up in Fulham’s academy but made just one league appearance for the Cottagers.

At just 23 years of age, the midfielder has plenty of progressing to do and having excelled in front of goal for the Hoops, the natural progression line from Southampton to Celtic – that Victor Wanyama, Fraser Forster, Virgil Van Dijk and Armstrong have followed – would be reborn with his arrival.

Celtic unlikely to match Brentford’s offer for Dara O’Shea

Brentford have made a second bid for Celtic target Dara O’Shea and are confident of securing him from Burnley. The Premier League side have reportedly bid in the hope to lure the Irishman to London.

According to transfer journalist Graeme Bailey at HITC, O’Shea is wanted by Thomas Frank’s Brentford as they prepare for the new season.

O’Shea joined Burnley in a deal worth £7m last summer for their assault on the top division, making 37 appearances and scoring 4 times and providing 4 assists. However, the report appears to suggest that Burnley would be looking to make a handsome profit on the Ireland Internationalist. This would likely put him outside of the realistic transfer bracket for the Scottish Champions.

Celtic are in the market for a new left sided central defender to partner Cameron Carter-Vickers with Liam Scales and Stephen welsh playing supporting roles. The club appears to be active in offloading players, with Gustaf Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki and Yuki Kobayashi all available this summer.

O’Shea was a target but anything over the £7m mark would be unlikely for Celtic to go for given that they look to be run in the most sustainable manner. It is likely that O’Shea will go for +£10m and Celtic are always going to struggle to justify a fee of that size.

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.

Celtic receive EPL approach, Rangers star to be sold, Hibs bid rejected, Ben Doak future decided – transfers

The latest transfer news and speculation around Scottish football

Celtic receive EPL approach

Brighton are the latest club to approach Celtic over a move for midfielder Matt O’Riley. Atalanta and Southampton have both failed with recent bids for the 23-year-old while Atletico Madrid had an £18m offer knocked back in January. Now, according to reports, Brighton have entered negotations with Celtic over their valuation of the Denmark international. Celtic are understood to be holding out for a fee in the region of £25m for a player they secured for just £1.5m from MK Dons in January 2022. O’Riley, who registered 37 goal contributions in 49 appearances last season, picked up his first assist of the new campaign in the opening day 4-0 win over Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Hibs bid rejected

Dundee captain Luke McCowan has emerged as a transfer target for Hibs. According to reports, the Easter Road side have submitted an offer for the 26-year-old midfielder which has been rejected by their Premiership rivals. McCowan, who scored 10 goals in 41 appearances last season as Dundee secured a top six finish, is also attracting interest from England amid reports League One Bolton have had a bid turned down. McCowan is out of contract next summer leaving Dundee with a decision to make over whether to cash in this summer or risk losing him for nothing on a pre-contract agreement in January.

Rangers star to be sold

Ianis Hagi is on his way out of Rangers after manager Philippe Clement confirmed his intention to sell the midfielder this summer. The Romania international made his first appearance of the season when he played 45 minutes for the Gers B team in a 4-3 friendly win over Middlesbrough reserves at Auchenhowie on Monday. However, the 25-year-old is not part of Clement’s first-team plans and will be allowed to leave for the right price before the window closes. Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League qualifier against Dynamo Kyiv in Poland, the Rangers boss confirmed: “We had clear talks before the pre-season with his agents about that. We need to look, like I said, at a lot of things in the club about wages, how many you can have in a position with the budget we have and to get the budget to get transfers. So, it was really clear towards him that the idea was to sell him. That is what we wanted also so that is the clear situation.”

Ben Doak future decided

Liverpool will allow Ben Doak to leave the club on loan this summer with up to three Premier League clubs showing an interest in the Scotland winger. Reports on Monday indicated that new Reds boss Arne Slot has decided that Doak will benefit more by gaining first team experience elsewhere in the coming season after assessing his performances during pre-season. Doak has made 10 first team appearances for Liverpool since joining from Celtic in 2022 and received a call-up for Scotland’s Euro 2024 squad before having to withdraw due to fitness issues following a season blighted by injury. Brentford, Leicester and Southampton are all reportedly keen to land the 18-year-old on a season-long loan deal.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha hopes of a summer move have been all but ruled out over the weekend.

Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Kilmarnock v Celtic – Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland, Britain – May 15, 2024 Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Sacha Tavolieri, a journalist who has been following the potential transfer very closely, shared an update indicating that Balikwisha has encountered an injury issue that is more serious than initially anticipated. This development could potentially sideline the Royal Antwerp winger for a considerable period, thereby dampening the prospect of a summer move to Celtic.

— SACHA TAVOLIERI (@SACHATAVOLIERI) AUGUST 5, 2024

Despite the enthusiasm and a direct phone conversation between Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Balikwisha, negotiations had already been strained due to Antwerp’s high valuation of the player.

Given the new concerns about Balikwisha’s fitness, combined with the already high financial demands, the likelihood of this transfer proceeding has diminished significantly. Tavolieri’s revelation about the injury adds another layer of complexity, potentially deterring Celtic from pursuing this signing further this summer.

Celtic will now look to other targets in the wings, you’d imagine.

Middlesbrough In Lead In Race For Celtic And Hull City Target

Middlesbrough are in the lead in the race to sign Celtic and Hull City target Tommy Conway, according to Sky Sports News.

Conway has turned down a new contract at Bristol City and the Robins are expected to sell him this summer.

Middlesbrough have put in an offer for Conway and they have just been joined by Hull, who have put in a £5m bid.

Scottish giants Celtic also continue to be linked with Conway, while Burnley and other clubs in the English Championship are admirers.

Middlesbrough are currently suggested to be in the lead for Conway though.

Michael Carrick is being backed in the transfer market and he wants the 21-year-old in through the door.

Carrick saw Conway in action against Middlesbrough twice in the Championship last season and he found the back of the net once.

Conway has been capped by Scotland at international level, with his bow coming before Euro 2024.

He was part of the Scotland squad in Germany but did not get off the bench.

Brighton and Southampton no closer to Matt O’Riley Celtic transfer valuation as EPL duo remain in talks

The EPL duo are amongst a host of clubs keen to land Brendan Rodgers’ star man this summer

Brighton and Southampton remain in talks with Celtic over a deal for Matt O’Riley – but neither are getting close to the Hoops’ valuation.

The Saints have had bids turned down and Brighton have since entered the frame. Celtic have made it clear that they won’t sell unless the price is right. The Scottish champions won’t give a fee but it is clear it will take a significant bid in and or around the £25million package they could land from Jota’s sale.

Celtic have also turned down multiple offers from Italian side Atalanta who remain interested. It remains to be seen if others will come to the table with Chelsea also known to be watching the situation closely. O’Riley hasn’t let the speculation derail him and he was a key man in Celtic’s opening day win over Kilmarnock. Boss Brendan Rodgers has urged teams to value the player and not the league when bidding for O’Riley.

They have brought in Paulo Bernardo, Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo. They are now looking to bring in a left-back, possibly another centre half, midfielder and two strikers before the close of the window.

The Danish International has proved to be a bargain signing since his £1.5 million move from MK Dons. Celtic are trying to add to their squad.

Liverpool set to take former Celtic star’s permanent transfer exit into ‘consideration’ with 3 EPL clubs keen

He is set for an exit of some sort | Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The former Celtic attacker is possibly on for a transfer exit at Liverpool.

Former Celtic star Ben Doak is set to leave Liverpool – with a permanent exit not ruled out.

The Reds have had the youngster out on their tour of the US this summer under new manager Arne Slot. He has emerged as a bright talent since moving to Liverpool from Celtic in 2022, but last season was hampered by injury that also ruled him out of Euro 2024.

Now that his new gaffer has had a look at him, a decision has reportedly been made on where he plays his football this season. The Daily Express claim that Liverpool have “decided to let Ben Doak leave on loan this summer after assessing his performances in pre-season.” Leicester City, Southampton and Brentford are keen on him, according to the report.

A loan deal “is the most likely solution” when it comes to the ex-Hoops player but “the Reds intend to take all options into consideration, including those which involve permanent buy options.” Doak was highly-rated at Celtic and broke into the senior team, appearing in an Old Firm derby before leaving for the Premier League.

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He told Liverpool’s club media last week of pre-season so far: “The schedule is really good and really tough. We’re pretty much at it all day every day, so it’s just up to us as players to recover well and make sure we can go at it every morning.

“Obviously I was injured for so long, so coming back at possibly the toughest part of the year physically, I don’t see much better preparation for the new season than that. I wouldn’t say lost time, who knows if I would have played?

“Obviously in my mind I’d like to think that I would have. But I can’t look back at last season because it’s last season, I need to look at this season and just try to get as many appearances on the board as possible.”

Ben Doak allowed Liverpool loan exit as Premier League clubs make contact

Football Scotland can confirm Doak has been told he can leave short-term

Ben Doak can leave Liverpool on loan (Image: Getty Images)

Ben Doak has been told he can leave Liverpool on loan this summer, Football Scotland understands.

The former Celtic youngster, 18, burst onto the scene at Anfield last year with the kid featuring against the likes of Chelsea and Leicester City as well as playing for the club on the Europa League stage. He was even called into Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for Euro 2024 before he had to withdraw through injury.

Now, though, Football Scotland can confirm reports from down south which claimed Reds boss Arne Slot was ready to make him available for a loan exit with the English giants fielding calls from a number of top flight clubs.

It’s claimed that Southampton, Leicester City and Brentford are all among those clubs considering a move for the wide man who joined from Parkhead back in 2022 having played in a derby clash with Rangers before he left.

No decision from Doak’s camp has yet been made as to where the playmaker will end up but it’s likely he’ll be with another side before the start of the new campaign.

Ex-Celtic kid Ben Doak ‘set for’ Liverpool loan exit

Top Scotland prospect Ben Doak looks set to leave Liverpool on loan this summer, according to reports.

The 18-year-old has a handful of first-team appearances under his belt for the Reds, but it seems Arne Slot will allow the teenager to gain some more vital minutes to aid in his development.

The ex-Celtic kid burst onto the scene in the cup competitions last season, while he also earned a substitute outing in the Premier League against Aston Villa.

The Ayrshire-lad was called into Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for Euro 2024 this summer, but he later had to withdraw through injury.

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Football Scotland says Liverpool will allow him to gain more first-team experience on loan away from Anfield this season.

Among the interested clubs are Premier League sides Southampton, Leicester City and Brentford.

Doak left Celtic in 2022 after making his Scottish Premiership debut against Rangers aged just 16.

A decision has yet to be made by Doak and his camp about his future in the year ahead, but it’s increasingly likely he’ll not be featuring for Liverpool.

Read more:

Meanwhile, Brighton have entered talks with Celtic over a deal for Matt O’Riley, according to a report.

Sky Sports says the clubs are in negotiation over the possible transfer of the Denmark international.

The Scottish Premiership giants have already rejected three offers from Serie A side Atalanta this summer.

Now, it seems Brighton are looking to steal the march in the race to sign the 23-year-old.

The same report claims that O’Riley is on the radar of a number of clubs, including Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge club are looking for possible replacements for Conor Gallagher as he looks set to complete his move to Atletico Madrid this summer.

Hugo Bueno prefers move to Celtic

Celtic are looking to sign a few players this month and adding a new defender is a priority for them. 

The Bhoys are expecting to receive more offers for midfielder Mat O’Riley, with Chelsea showing keen interest in him.

If the Denmark midfielder leaves Parkhead, Celtic will be expected to delve into the market and make a flurry of signings to bolster the squad.

Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo has moved to Celtic permanently after impressing last season on loan.

Now the focus is on signing a new left-back, and Celtic have been keen on signing Hugo Bueno for a while now.

Last month, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph claimed that the Bhoys have made an approach to sign the 21-year-old left-back.

The Hoops have been monitoring the defender for some time now as they look to provide competition for Greg Taylor.

Now, journalist James Marshment claims that he has been told that Leeds United are also interested in signing Bueno, but he prefers a move to Celtic instead.

The reason being the Wolves defender is attracted by the prospect of playing in the Champions League next season, but the situation could change as there are other clubs who might also get involved.

He wrote on X: “Told Hugo Bueno is a player that Leeds like but Wolves player currently prefers move to Celtic, with the offer of UCL football a big attraction.

“Situation may change but there are currently other sides in the hunt.”

Bueno would be an interesting signing for the Bhoys. He has got Premier League experience, and his best years are ahead of him.

He has broken through the Wolves academy and is a highly talented player. Last season, he made seven Premier League starts and would be looking for regular game time elsewhere.

At Leeds, he is likely to get regular games, but Celtic would be ideal for his growth and development.

West Ham United ready to sign Matt O’Riley before 16 August as new transfer twist emerges

West Ham are ready to enter into negotiations for Matt O’Riley and reach an agreement with Celtic before the Premier League season starts on Friday (16 August), according to Caught Offside.

The online source reported [5 August] that, alongside Leicester, the Hammers are showing a strong interest in the 23-year-old midfielder despite hesitancy over the £25million asking price.

Atalanta are also interested in signing O’Riley, having had multiple bids rejected by the Scottish club, and Julen Lopetegui’s side are now prepared to make an offer.

West Ham United to sign Celtic star Matt O’Riley?

The 23-year-old is a hugely exciting player, currently plying his trade in the Scottish Premiership with Celtic, but has already proven himself at a much higher level.

Despite the Hoops crashing out of last season’s Champions League group stage, he was a star player with assists against Lazio, Atletico Madrid and Feyenoord, and has continued that form into the new season.

While Brendan Rodgers will not want to see the midfield maestro leave Celtic Park this summer, it will be difficult for the club to turn down an offer of £25million if it is to come from the Premier League.

He has already bagged an assist after Celtic’s league opener against Kilmarnock on Sunday 4 August, form that has prompted several European clubs to keep an eye on him.

O’Riley has also earned a call-up to the Denmark national team, winning two caps in recent seasons and playing alongside the likes of Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund.

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Beating the other interested sides to O’Riley’s signature this summer would certainly be a statement signing, especially after notching 19 goals and 18 assists in all competitions last term.

The Hammers have already splashed the cash on signing Wolves’ Max Kilman, Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras and Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville, but the Celtic star could be the final piece of the transfer window puzzle at the London Stadium.

In talks with Celtic- Sky Sports give worrying transfer update

According to Sky Sports Brighton are in talks with Celtic over a deal to sign Matt O’Riley.

Southampton and Atalanta have been strongly linked with signing the midfielder but none of the reports have been described as being ‘in talks’.

Brighton might not be viewed as the most glamorous option to O’Riley but they have established a reputation as one of the best run clubs in the game with a scouting and recruitment set up that provides ready made players for clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Just before 4pm today Sky Sports reported:

Brighton are in talks with Celtic over a deal for Matt O’Riley, with Chelsea among a number of other clubs interested in the midfielder.

O’Riley has been the subject of bids from Atalanta this summer, and he has further interest from other clubs in the Premier League and abroad.

Sky Sports News also reported over the weekend that he is among a number of options being considered by Chelsea to replace Conor Gallagher, should he complete his proposed move to Atletico Madrid.

If a fee can be agreed between the clubs the decision would be down to O’Riley who will know all about the reputation Brighton has after he spent a decade in the Fulham Academy.

Celtic may be more open to a deal with Brighton provided they get more than the usual 10% add on to any transfer fee.

Reporting on a profit of £122.8m for the year to 30 June 2023 ESPN explained:

Their eye-catching figure is largely based on outgoing transfers. Mali midfielder Yves Bissouma (to Tottenham Hotspur), Spain defender Marc Cucurella (to Chelsea), Belgium forward Leandro Trossard (to Arsenal) and Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (to Liverpool) all left the club during this period, leading to a profit of £121.4m. Brighton also received around £21m in compensation when losing head coach Graham Potter to Chelsea.

Last September O’Riley renewed his Celtic contract with a deal running until May 2027.

Rodgers’ next Suarez: Celtic preparing offer to sign “relentless” star

Celtic enjoyed the perfect start to the 2024/25 campaign on Sunday as they secured an emphatic 4-0 win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead in their first game.

The Hoops are now top of the Scottish Premiership table after just one match and will be hoping to stay there for the remainder of the season.

Only one new signing featured in Glasgow, though, as goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel lined up between the sticks as Joe Hart’s heir, and kept a relatively easy clean sheet.

Paulo Bernardo and Viljami Sinisalo, the club’s only other signings this summer, were both unused substitutes at Paradise, watching on as the team dismantled Kilmarnock with ease.

There is still plenty of time left in the summer transfer window for the reigning Premiership champions to make further additions to their squad, though.

The window does not officially slam shut until the end of the month and that means that the Bhoys have over three weeks left to do business.

Brendan Rodgers could yet add more quality to his team in the short-term but the Northern Irish boss is also reportedly eyeing up a signing that could be with the future in mind.

Celtic eyeing swoop for teen marksman

According to Football Insider, the Scottish giants are one of the clubs interested in a deal to sign St Patrick’s wonderkid Mason Melia this summer.

The report claims that the Hoops are preparing a bid to bring the 16-year-old sensation to Glasgow to bolster their attacking options for the 2024/25 campaign.

It states that Celtic and Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion are both readying formal offers for the teenage starlet, but there is no mention of how much the Irish side are set to demand for his services.

Football Insider adds that Manchester City previously held an interest in Melia and had him on trial last year. However, that did not lead to a contract offer from Pep Guardiola’s team.

Everton are also said to have been keen on him in the past but Brighton and Celtic are the two teams leading the race for his signature right now.

The report suggests that the Hoops’ strong links to Irish football, with the likes of Liam Scales, Bosun Lawal, and Mikey Johnston on their books, could show a clear pathway to first-team football for Melia, potentially giving them a leg up.

If Rodgers can beat Brighton to the 16-year-old striker’s services then he could land his future Luis Suarez 2.0 for Celtic, as the young star has already been compared to the legendary forward.

Luis Suarez’s progress under Rodgers

Speaking to The Herald earlier this year, the former Liverpool boss made the point that the Uruguay international was not a prolific scorer for the Reds before his appointment in the summer of 2012.

Rodgers claimed that his style of play, with attacking, aggressive, football, suits centre-forwards and that Suarez benefitted from narrowing his game to focus on his work in the box – finding the back of the net rather than moving about the pitch to find the ball.

The striker had scored 15 goals in 44 Premier League matches for Liverpool in his first 18 months at the club, after a move from Ajax in January 2011, prior to the current Celtic manager’s arrival.

Rodgers, as explained above, helped the attacker to narrow his game and focus on his movement inside the box and it made a gigantic difference to his performances on the pitch.

In his two seasons under the Northern Irishman in the Premier League, Suarez emerged as a prolific scorer for Liverpool, after his average return in the top-flight prior to that.

Luis Suarez

2012/13 Premier League

2013/14 Premier League

Appearances

33

33

Goals

23

31

Assists

5

12

Shots per game

5.7

5.5

Key passes per game

2.8

2.7

As you can see in the table above, the Uruguayan sensation plundered a staggering 54 goals in 66 appearances in the Premier League for the Reds under Rodgers.

His 5.7 and 5.5 shots per game across the two campaigns show that he was given plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net as the focal point of the attack, focusing on getting shots off rather than dropping deep to collect the ball.

Why Mason Melia could be Brendan Rodgers’ next Luis Suarez

Firstly, analyst Ben Mattinson claimed that Melia’s instincts and dribbling skills remind him of Suarez, due to his quick feet and diminutive nature as a centre-forward.

Mattinson described the 16-year-old talent as a “relentless” and “aggressive” striker who can force his way past opposition defenders with the ball at his feet, just like the former Liverpool and Barcelona superstar.

The analyst added that the St Patrick’s star is also a “confident” finisher who can find the back of the net with both feet and has great power in his shots.

Despite these rave reviews, Melia is not a signing Celtic supporters should expect to come in and hit the ground running as an immediate Suarez 2.0 for Rodgers, as he is only 16 and is yet to play outside of his home country.

The teenage starlet has shown plenty of promise at club and international level in his short career so far, though, and could develop into the manager’s next version of the ex-Liverpool marksman.

2024 Premier Division

Mason Melia

Appearances

25

Starts

12

Goals

3

Assists

1

Ground duel success rate

50%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Melia has produced four goal contributions in 12 league starts and held his own in physical duels, which is an impressive set of stats for a player who does not turn 17 until September.

The Irish whiz has scored seven goals in 43 senior games for his club to date, to go along with an eye-catching return of nine goals in 19 caps for Ireland at U17 level.

He is over a year away from turning 18 and has already scored goals at first-team level and showcased his potential to score goals regularly for his country, which is why Melia is such an exciting talent and target for the Hoops.

Matt O’Riley Brighton transfer interest as Celtic ‘asked’ price with negotiations kickstarted

The midfielder has a number of interested clubs this summer

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Brighton are the latest club to open talks with Celtic over a potential transfer for Matt O’Riley.

The Seagulls join Leicester City and Southampton down south on a list of clubs keen to take the Danish international to the Premier League. They’ve now reportedly asked the Hoops just how much their asking price for the 23-year-old is as they weigh up what is expected to be a record fee demand for the playmaker who hit 19 goals and provided 18 assists in all competitions last year.

O’Riley has already been the subject of official transfer bids from Atalanta and Atletico Madrid over the past number of months and now Brighton have thrown their name in the hat.

New manager Fabian Hürzeler is on the lookout for reinforcements for his first campaign in charge after replacing Roberto de Zerbi and O’Riley has been listed as an option.

It comes as they get set to lose Billy Gilmour to Napoli in Serie A and his current club seek a replacement.

Celtic’s star man started against Kilmarnock over the weekend in their 4-0 win at Parkhead and has a deal in place in Glasgow until 2027.

He joined for just £1.5million back in 2022.

Leicester first in line to sign natural goalscorer – Fabrizio Romano

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Leicester City are leading the race to sign a player who could be describe as a natural goalscorer. Chelsea are renowned for selling quality prospects for relatively inexpensive prices. And the Foxes might perhaps have a bargain on their hands with striker David Datro Fofana. Will the Leicestershire outfit raid the west London squad for a signing? The Blues have certainly pinched many high profile LCFC stars in the modern era.

In the meantime, City supposedly seek to reinforce their midfield area. This general assertion is likely particularly accurate, being that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall departed King Power Stadium earlier in the offseason. Whether or not Leicester are seriously looking at Celtic standout Matt O’Riley remains to be seen. If the English side do adamantly wish to secure the Dane from the Scots, they have competition from another Premier League team.

Matt O’Riley talk still won’t go away

There is no doubting that O’Riley is an excellent footballer who would clearly enhance the Leicester roster. However, making the jump from the Scottish Premiership to the top-flight in England is never a foregone conclusion. Although, if anyone can do so, the Denmark international has as much chance as those who try.

Unfortunately for LCFC and their loyal support, funding is seemingly a constant issue. One out and a few cheaper in is a perennial issue during transfer windows. So targeting the best value options is something Filbert Way scouts must always do.

O’Riley obviously fits the vacant spot at Leicester due to prerequisite talent. So what are the drawbacks? Well, he is valued relatively highly by the Hoops, which is absolutely fair and their prerogative. The champions of Scotland have, interestingly, agreed on business with their opposite number over the years. A positive omen?

Nevertheless, Leicester are reluctant – or possibly unable – to part with the £25 million asking fee. Besides, the Foxes have EPL club West Ham United as rivals for the signature. It feels as if this is one transfer that won’t happen.

Leicester City leading race to capture David Datro Fofana

I was pleasantly surprised to see famed writer Fabrizio Romano link City with Fofana, again. The latter made a really good impression on me whilst on loan at Burnley last season. By all appearances, he is a potentially gifted finisher at this level. So what did the Italian say of interest?

🚨🔵 David Datro Fofana, expected to leave Chelsea this summer on loan with possible obligation-to-buy clause.

Understand Leicester City are currently leading the race with Stuttgart and Villarreal also interested. pic.twitter.com/Tu0xxX64GI

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 5, 2024

Celtic midfield star Matt O’Riley is firmly on the West Ham United transfer radar this summer it seems.

West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui needs to bolster his central midfield ranks at the London Stadium, after allowing Flynn Downes to join Southampton for around £18 million earlier this summer.

Yes, Guido Rodriguez will unquestionably improve his options, but in my opinion, one more addition to the engine room is required before summer window slams shut.

And Celtic star Matt O’Riley would be a signing of truly biblical proportions.

The 23-year-old was in stunning form for the Hoops in Scotland last season, and he possesses all of the attributes needed to succeed in the Premier League.

Now it seems like he could be ready to swap the East End of Glasgow for the East End of London this summer…

Stunning Matt O’Riley to West Ham claim emerges

The Hammers were linked with a move to sign the Denmark international last summer, but he remained at Celtic Park in the end.

And now Lopetegui will seemingly try to succeed where David Moyes before him failed.
And what an incredible signing he would be for us.

Caught Offside claim that West Ham are pushing hard to bring O’Riley to the London Stadium before the start of the new Premier League season.

However, there is allegedly some hesitancy amongst the Hammers hierarchy to meet Celtic’s £25 million asking price for him.

His goal and assist record for Celtic in all competitions last season was sensational – 19 and 18 in 49 outings.

That’s not too far off from a goal contribution in every single game.

O’Reilly, 23, was actually born in London, and began his youth career with our London rivals Fulham.

Since joining Celtic though, he has gone from strength to strength.

O’Riley is a central midfielder by trade, but he can operate in the deep-lying role and the number 10 position as well if need be.

He possesses exceptional technical ability and has a really impressive engine on him. He has the physicality that we have lacked in the middle of the park and is a real leader of men, despite his tender years.

Matt O’Riley would be a stunning signing for West Ham this summer. Whether or not the Hammers owners will be prepared to stretch to his £25 million asking price remains to be seen though.

Celtic ‘in talks’ with Brighton over Matt O’Riley transfer

Brighton have entered talks with Celtic over a deal for Matt O’Riley, according to a report.

Sky Sports says the clubs are in negotiation over the possible transfer of the Denmark international.

The Scottish Premiership giants have already rejected three offers from Serie A side Atalanta this summer.

Now, it seems Brighton are looking to steal the march in the race to sign the 23-year-old.

🚨 Brighton are in talks with Celtic over a deal for Matt O’Riley ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/FZYHC8rQgq

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 5, 2024

The same report claims that O’Riley is on the radar of a number of clubs, including Chelsea.

The Stamford Bridge club are looking for possible replacements for Conor Gallagher as he looks set to complete his move to Atletico Madrid this summer.

O’Riley started in the 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock on Sunday afternoon, as Brendan Rodgers fielded his best players against their weakened opponents.

The transfer saga relating to the attacking midfielder has rumbled on for some time.

So, if talks with Brighton progress well, then the player could be on his way to the Premier League.

Read more:

Meanwhile, Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi was denied a penalty despite huge appeals as he went down in the box against Kilmarnock.

The Japanese forward latched onto a smart lofted ball from Matt O’Riley – from a free-kick – before colliding with Robby McCrorie.

Kyogo had controlled the ball before McCrorie connected with the striker to leave him in a heap in the box. It did not appear McCrorie touched the ball before bumping into the forward.

However, no penalty was awarded, in the eventual 4-0 win, by referee Don Robertson and no VAR review was advised.

There had been a suggestion of a possible offside on Kyogo in the build-up but former referee Bobby Madden has explained a screenshot of the offside would have been shown if that was the reason for no spot-kick being awarded.

Liverpool set to take former Celtic star’s permanent transfer exit into ‘consideration’ with 3 EPL clubs keen

He is set for an exit of some sort | Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The former Celtic attacker is possibly on for a transfer exit at Liverpool.

Former Celtic star Ben Doak is set to leave Liverpool – with a permanent exit not ruled out.

The Reds have had the youngster out on their tour of the US this summer under new manager Arne Slot. He has emerged as a bright talent since moving to Liverpool from Celtic in 2022, but last season was hampered by injury that also ruled him out of Euro 2024.

Now that his new gaffer has had a look at him, a decision has reportedly been made on where he plays his football this season. The Daily Express claim that Liverpool have “decided to let Ben Doak leave on loan this summer after assessing his performances in pre-season.” Leicester City, Southampton and Brentford are keen on him, according to the report.

A loan deal “is the most likely solution” when it comes to the ex-Hoops player but “the Reds intend to take all options into consideration, including those which involve permanent buy options.” Doak was highly-rated at Celtic and broke into the senior team, appearing in an Old Firm derby before leaving for the Premier League.

He told Liverpool’s club media last week of pre-season so far: “The schedule is really good and really tough. We’re pretty much at it all day every day, so it’s just up to us as players to recover well and make sure we can go at it every morning.

“Obviously I was injured for so long, so coming back at possibly the toughest part of the year physically, I don’t see much better preparation for the new season than that. I wouldn’t say lost time, who knows if I would have played?

“Obviously in my mind I’d like to think that I would have. But I can’t look back at last season because it’s last season, I need to look at this season and just try to get as many appearances on the board as possible.”

Celtic transfer news bulletin as Brighton launch Matt O’Riley ‘talks’ and Schmeichel blown away by ‘incredible welcome’

The Denmark international is the subject of interest from several clubs around the continent.

Brighton have reportedly opened up talks with Celtic over a potential deal for talisman Matt O’Riley.

Last season’s Premiership Player of the Year is being courted by a number of clubs across the continent this summer, with Europa League winners Atalanta seeing multiple bids for the Denmark international turfed out by the Hoops. The likes of Liverpool and Leicester have also been credited with an interest in the 23-year-old, but Sky Sports report that fellow Premier League side Brighton have stepped up their attempts to land the attacking midfielder.

Chelsea are also said to be keeping tabs on O’Riley and could make a move for the Celtic star if they sell Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid, who have also been linked with O’Riley and had a bid turfed out in January. The Hoops number 33 still has three years remaining on his deal at Parkhead, with the club in a strong position to demand a sizeable fee for their most prized asset.

Elsewhere in Glasgow’s East End, a proud Kasper Schmeichel admits his Celtic debut exceeded expectations and he’s been overwhelmed by his welcome. The goalkeeper was watched by dad Peter as he marked his first competitive outing with a clean sheet in the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.

Schmeichel savoured the occasion and reckons the experience has merely heightened his desire to enjoy success during his time in Glasgow.Reflecting on the Killie win, he said: “It exceeded expectation. It’s been an incredible welcome.

“I must say it’s been overwhelming and something that makes me very proud. But also it makes me very, very motivated to keep winning for this team.”

Schmeichel did not have much to do as the champions turned on the style against Derek McInnes’ men. The No.1 told Celtic TV: “If I could have a full season of them, I’d be buzzing. The lads were brilliant. They were incredible.

“We had a really good pre-season, played some incredible stuff. This was a different kind of game, but I thought we did really well.

“We moved the ball fast, we had good combinations, good goals, everything was good. They didn’t really create any chances and that’s because the boys, not just at the back but from the front, defended, the counter press was good, so it was a very good afternoon.”