Recently-relegated Leicester City have identified Celtic playmaker Matt O’Riley as a replacement for talisman James Maddison when the England international leaves the now-Championship outfit.
And we do mean ‘when’.
Even if the European Championships were not just a year away, it’s hard to imagine that the much-coveted James Maddison would have been willing to spend the 2023/24 season travelling to Bristol, Middlesbrough or Hull on a baltic Tuesday night in early February.
He, quite simply, deserves better.
With 10 goals and nine assists, Maddison was comfortably Leicester City’s standout performer last term. Though that’s not saying much; The Foxes relegated just two years after winning the FA Cup and seven after defying the odds to secure their place in Premier League folklore.
Could Celtic’s Matt O’Riley step in for James Maddison at Leicester?
The Athletic believe that £40 million could now be enough to twist Leicester arms. Maddison’s market value diminishing following relegation, not to mention the fact that he now has just 12 months left on his deal.
And the talented O’Riley would have very big boots to fill at the King Power Stadium; TEAMtalk reporting that Leicester see the London-born Denmark U21 star as a ‘potential replacement’ for their talismanic number ten.
Recruited for just £1.5 million from third-tier MK Dons in January 2022, O’Riley was one of many inspired bargain signings brought to Celtic during the Ange Postecoglou era. And whoever replaces the Tottenham-bound Aussie – be it Jesse Marsch, Enzo Maresca or perhaps even Brendan Rodgers – would undoubtedly prefer to retain the services of a skilful attacking midfielder who’s guile, vision and surgical left boot made him such a key part of Celtic’s treble-winning squad this term.
“It’s his mentality that sets him apart,” former MK Dons boss Russell Martin says of 22-year-old O’Riley, who he views as an ‘incredible’ talent.
“He’s supremely confident and a super pro. His diet is spot on, and he’s really athletic. More than he is given credit for. He’s got everything to play at the top. For Denmark and in the Premier League.”
This is not the first time O’Riley has emerged as a target for Leicester City either.
“I know that Leicester showed a lot of interest in me. And I think Newcastle were there too,” O’Riley told TipsBladet after the summer of 2022.
“It’s great to get some recognition. It means that I’m doing well at Celtic. But as I say, Celtic is the perfect place for me right now. It’s a big club, we play in the Champions League, the fans are insanely good and the team is good.
“It’s a perfect place to be. I also think it’s a good place to be if I want to go to the World Cup with Denmark.”
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