Celtic could be offered star once compared to Lionel Messi from Brighton for Matt O’Riley

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC understands that Brighton & Hove Albion have held talks with Celtic over midfielder Matt O’Riley this summer.

Brighton & Hove Albion appointed Fabian Hurzeler as the club’s new manager with the German replacing Roberto De Zerbi as manager of the Seagulls.

Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer joined Brighton earlier this summer and it appears the South Coast club may well be busy in the final few weeks of the transfer window, Matt O’Riley could be the next name on the list for Brighton.

Sources have told HITC that Brighton are in talks with Celtic over a deal to sign prolific midfielder O’Riley this summer.

Matt O’Riley in transfer tug of war

Sources have told HITC that Southampton and Atalanta remain keen on the Danish midfielder and are battling with Brighton to get a deal done for the midfielder.

Southampton signing O’Riley would not be the first player that the Saints have brought from the Bhoys in recent years.

The most famous example of this is Virgil Van Dijk, who departed Celtic in 2013 and moved to St Mary’s Stadium before eventually moving to Liverpool.

HITC is told that Saints boss Russell Martin is determined to land the Danish midfielder this summer.

Martin coached O’Riley at Milton Keynes Dons and wanted to bring him to Swansea City in 2022, according to Wales Online.

Celtic won the race and O’Riley has now racked up 27 goals and 34 assists in 121 appearances for the Bhoys.

However, Brighton are keen to win the race for the Danish star and could be prepared to offer a player in return.

Brighton ready to offer Facundo Buonanotte to Celtic to get deal done

Sources have told HITC that one avenue that Brighton are considering is offering Facundo Buonanotte on loan to Celtic.

VoetbalPrimeur quotes former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez, who once drew comparisons between Buonanotte and Lionel Messi.

Speaking about the Brighton star, Tevez said “The way he runs and accelerates reminds me of Messi. It’s been a long time since I watched someone who gives me so much pleasure.”

With a lot of sides battling to land O’Riley it appears that Brighton wants to jump ahead of the queue to land the Danish star.

This perhaps highlights just how important O’Riley is to Celtic with Mark Guidi claiming that fans would be apoplectic if they sold the Danish midfielder.

Last season for Celtic, O’Riley scored 18 goals and provided 13 assists in the Scottish Premiership so it is easy to see why there is such a fuss about the 23-year-old.