Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley has finalised his move to Brighton, completing a medical and sealing a deal that will set a new record for the highest transfer fee received by a Scottish club.
Despite receiving multiple offers from Atalanta, which peaked at £21.5 million plus add-ons, Celtic held out for a higher bid that reflected O’Riley’s value to the team. Rodgers had told interested clubs to value the player, not the league.
The Danish international is set to sign a five-year contract with Brighton, with an option to extend, marking a significant step up to the Premier League. He travelled to the south coast this weekend, missing Celtic’s trip to Paisley, to complete the move.
Celtic have moved on swiftly, putting in a big for Arne Engels, although it has since been rejected.
Despite the rejection, there is optimism surrounding the negotiations as personal terms have already been agreed upon with the 20-year-old midfielder, who is keen on a move to Celtic. Engels has expressed a strong desire to join Celtic, which could play a pivotal role in the ongoing discussions.
With the transfer deadline approaching this Friday, Celtic will need to increase their offer to meet Augsburg’s expectations. The clubs are not far apart in their valuations, and with the player’s agreement in place, there is a reasonable chance that the deal could be finalised in time.
The Scottish champions lodged the offer on Sunday night, but it fell short of Augsburg’s valuation, with the German club holding out for a fee in the range of €10-15 million (£8.5 million.
With the transfer deadline approaching this Friday, Celtic will need to increase their offer to meet Augsburg’s expectations. The clubs are not far apart in their valuations, and with the player’s agreement in place, there is a reasonable chance that the deal could be finalised in time.
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