Charlotte FC president Nick Kelly has confirmed that Riley McGree is free to leave with Celtic and Middlesbrough going head-to-head for the Australia international, speaking to The Observer.
While Middlesbrough appear to have fought off competition from the Scottish Premiership giants for McGree’s signature, no one should be ruling anything out at this stage.
According to 90Min, Chris Wilder’s play-off chasing Boro side have offered £3.5 million for the Birmingham City loanee. That is £500,000 more than Celtic are willing to pay.
There is still time for another dramatic late twist, however. Especially given that a move to Glasgow would see McGree reunite with the man who handed him his international debut at the age of 17 five years ago.
“For us, it’s very much a thing that’s not final yet,” Charlotte FC president Nick Kelly explains. “But there are a lot of teams currently in negotiations with (sporting director) Zoran (Krneta) to see him (McGree) stay in Europe.
“Obviously the numbers are still being negotiated. But our number one (priority) is to find the right solution for both parties.
“In this situation, we feel like we may be able to reach an agreement where it’s good for the player and it’s good for the club.”
Could Riley McGree still join Celtic?
Charlotte FC are newcomers to the MLS. They will play their inaugural league fixture when the 2022 season kicks off against DC United next month.
Losing McGree, arguably their most talented footballer, is hardly an ideal start to proceedings.
But Kelly points out that this is all part of the club’s strategy. One that revolves around signing talented youngsters and offering them a stepping stone to something bigger.
“We want to make sure that players feel comfortable, that they feel there’s an opportunity to go somewhere that makes sense for their career,” Kelly adds.
“We’re not gonna be one of those clubs that holds (a player) hostage.
“If this ends up working out for all parties, we think that it sends the right message to future players and also to the market that we have the connections that we’ve promised for the last 18 months.”
It is understood that, should Celtic miss out on McGree, manager Ange Postecoglou will turn his attention to a number of alternative options.
He is prioritising a new attacking midfielder with a fortnight left in the transfer window.
AZ Alkmaar’s Albert Gudmundsson and Shamrock Rovers star Danny Mandroiu are among those who have been linked recently.
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