Chelsea have seemingly signed every young and rising star under the sun in recent transfer windows and they aren’t stopping.
A team like Celtic, who are one of the biggest clubs in the world, must look on in envy because the Premier League outfit gets to spend £1bn in next to no time, whilst they struggle to pay £10 million for just the one player.
All of that is down to Scotland’s top tier behind a world apart from the English Premier League, in terms of finances, but the under-fire London club not signing one of Celtic’s best players has left Paul Merson surprised.
Celtic beat Chelsea in pre-season this summer, with Brendan Rodgers’ side putting four goals past their opponents, including goals from Matt O’Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma and Mikey Johnston.
Rodgers won the double on his return to Celtic last season, with several players performing at the top of their game for the Glasgow giants.
But one man, in particular, stood tall above them all and that is Premier League-bound O’Riley – the 23-year-old scored 19 goals and supplied 18 assists in all competitions, including three assists in the Champions League.
The Denmark international has taken his game to serious heights under Rodgers and now Brighton are set to sign O’Riley.
But Merson expressed his ‘surprise’ at Chelsea not deciding to push for the playmaker’s signature because he ‘ticks all the boxes’.
If there is anyone’s judgment you want to trust, then it’s Brighton’s because they seem to pick out gems from across the world and turn them into big-money superstars.
That’s another reason why Merson thinks Enzo Maresca’s men should have signed O’Riley and how he also performed in America when playing against the Europa Conference League side, as he told Sky Sports News (24/08/24 at 12:20 pm).
Should Chelsea have signed Matt O’Riley?
“I am surprised Chelsea haven’t gone for him,” said Merson. “He played well in America (Celtic’s pre-season tour against Chelsea). He did, he played well in America
“He’s a good player. He is young. Ticks all the boxes and he is a good player.”
Matt O’Riley in the Premier League
O’Riley should be quietly glad a team like Chelsea haven’t come in for him because, given their current situation, he would probably just be drowned under their mess.
Celtic fans will say this through gritted teeth, but O’Riley has outgrown Scotland’s top tier and couldn’t stick around just to play Champions League football with the club.
READ MORE: 50 MOST LIKELY PREMIER LEAGUE, EFL AND EUROPEAN SUMMER 2024 FOOTBALL TRANSFERS
The quick-thinking midfielder is ready for the Premier League and you feel this is the right time for him to step up and showcase his worth.
And a place like Brighton, who help nurture talents and transform them into superstars, is the perfect place for him to be.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
