Celtic may have missed out on signing Riley McGree, but they will have another playmaker arriving MK Dons star Matt O’Riley.
The Bhoys were pushing to sign Australian ace McGree earlier this month, but he picked a move to Middlesbrough instead.
Celtic went back to the drawing board, still hoping to find a playmaker who could also operate out wide if needed.
Today, Celtic agreed their latest signing. MK Dons ace O’Riley is heading to Glasgow for a medical after Celtic struck a £1.5million deal, according to the Daily Mail.
O’Riley, 21, was a hot prospect at Fulham but lost his way before being released in 2020. After months as a free agent, MK Dons offered him a route back into football last January.
This season, O’Riley has been sensational. With seven goals and five assists in 26 League One games, O’Riley has dominated League One.
Championship clubs wanted the classy playmaker, but it’s Celtic who have on the race.
O’Riley may be a familiar name to some given that Celtic have actually targeted him in the past.
Sky Sports reported in January 2019 that Celtic were considering a bid to sign O’Riley, but faced a battle with Borussia Dortmund for his signature.
You can see how O’Riley would have fit in under Brendan Rodgers back then, but it just wasn’t to be for the Bhoys.
Fast forward three years and Celtic are now finally landing O’Riley, with boss Ange Postecoglou proving to be a key factor.
That Mail report claims that Postecoglou’s ‘personal intervention’ held Celtic fend off a number of other clubs for O’Riley’s signature.
Rodgers may have missed out, but Postecoglou hasn’t. O’Riley will soon be a Celtic player, offering another technically-gifted talent to Postecoglou’s ranks.
After shining in League One, O’Riley must now cope with the added expectations of playing for Celtic.
Let’s see if O’Riley, branded ‘fantastic’ by Russell Martin, was worth the wait for Celtic.
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