‘Difficult to turn down’: Leicester target urged to snub Foxes move

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Matt O’Riley should stay at Celtic despite interest from the Premier League and Leicester City, former Hoops ace Paul Lambert tells The National. 

It’s a testament to the impact O’Riley has made north of the border that, just seven months after joining Celtic from third-tier MK Dons in a deal worth £1.5 million, speculation over his future is already rife.  

The Telegraph claim that Brendan Rodgers is keen to raid his old employers and bring O’Riley – once of Fulham – back across the border. And Lambert isn’t surprised to see the 21-year-old enter the gossip columns so soon after becoming a Celtic player.

“If he’s doing well, then he’s going to attract attention. That’s normal,” says Lambert, who won four Scottish Premiership titles in green-and-white around the turn of the Century. “But he seems humble and if he understands what the club is all about and what it stands for, then he’ll be fine.

“Celtic is a huge club. There’s not too many bigger clubs in world football than Celtic.

“He shouldn’t look at it as a stepping stone to somewhere else. Because I don’t think you will find too many places where the pressure is as extreme as it is as when you are playing for Celtic.” 

Would Matt O’Riley leave Celtic for Leicester City?

O’Riley, an elegant, left-footed playmaker, settled immediately into life in the Parkhead goldfish bowl, playing a major role from January onwards as Ange Postecoglou’s debut season in Glasgow ended with domestic glory. 

Some have suggested O’Riley would given his chances of featuring for Denmark at the Qatar World Cup a timely shot in the arm if he was to leave Celtic after just half a year in Scotland. But Lambert believes that Champions League football with the Hoops can give him the exposure he craves. 

“The only thing that counts against Celtic probably is where the club plays. If he went to Leicester, you’re in the Premier League. And they have the biggest revenues, the biggest budgets, and all of those things come into it,” Lambert adds.

“But football wise, is it a bigger club? I would say no.

“Leicester are a good club. I was down a couple of months ago seeing Brendan and the training facilities are absolutely incredible. So, it’s very difficult for people to turn that down, but Celtic is a monster of a football club.”