Brendan Rodgers says he is ‘relaxed’ about the transfer speculation surrounding star man Matt O’Riley, despite acknowledging that every player at the club has his price.
Europa League winners Atalanta have had a second bid of around €19m rejected for the midfielder, but are expected to come back with another improved offer for a man Celtic picked up for a bargain £1.5m from MK Dons back in January 2022.
There remains concrete interest in O’Riley from other clubs around Europe’s top five leagues, but with Celtic under no financial pressure to sell, that puts them in a strong position to hold out for their full valuation of a player who has made a huge impact since arriving in Glasgow.
Speaking at a press conference alongside new signing Kasper Schmeichel from Celtic’s US tour last night, Rodgers said: “There’s no update, we’re fairly relaxed.
“You see him in the game the other night, he’s working very well, he’s very focused.
“Naturally when you’re a really good player, and especially a young player who is as committed and professional as he is, then he is going to acquire attention. But he’s working so well, and there is nothing really to report on him.
“Listen, I think we all understand and the people that are close to Celtic understand the model that Celtic work to.
“Matt has been at the club for three years, he has developed into the player he has. He knows the privilege it is to play for Celtic, and of course, naturally how it works, the players get that opportunity to move on.
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“Now, Celtic is a club where you can move on, but you don’t have to, and it’s a very difficult club to move on from. But naturally, with the wages that are on offer for players, that makes it a real challenge for Celtic to compete at that level.
“What I’ve seen with Matt is that he’s a first-class professional. Kasper knows him as well having been in the early stages of his Denmark career as well, and people will tell you, he’s a really humble guy.
“He’s very devoted to his profession, and he knows what he has here. So, we’re all quite relaxed about it.
“Every player has a value, we know that, but we see him as a really important player for us, and whilst he is here, we will continue to develop him and help him improve.”
