“And that’s the annoying thing for me”. Peter Grant says of a Celtic transfer rumour which is really ‘annoying’ him.

With the Scottish football season gone and Euro 2024 approaching, transfer rumours have dominated Celtic headlines in recent days.

Celtic’s search for a replacement for Joe Hart has taken centre stage, with speculations linking the Parkhead club to Bayern Munich’s Daniel Peretz.

There have also been claims that Bosnian international free agent Kenan Piric is being watched by Celtic, indicating that Brendan Rodgers has prioritised the club’s number one position as his top priority to fill.

However, it is a different rumour that has irritated Peter Grant, as the former Celtic hero has ruled out the most recent one featuring Hoops hero Matt O’Riley.

Peter Grant says O’Riley rumour is ‘annoying’

We discussed yesterday how Southampton manager Russell Martin wants to sign O’Riley from Celtic. However, the asking price of £25 million appears to have put that interest to rest, but Grant has explained why the rumour has annoyed him.

Grant stated on the Scottish Football Podcast, “You look at it now you think to yourself, well, he’s not done any worse than Christmas time, that’s for sure.

“And you look at his stats for goals and the goals he’s created, there’s no doubt he can play.

“The interesting thing for me is Southampton have just come up [to the EPL]. Russell Martin was his manager at MK Dons.

“Does that bring something as they’ve got money there for getting into the Premier League? Would Matt go to Southampton?

“And that’s the annoying thing for me. Celtic shouldn’t be losing [O’Riley] to a Southampton. Celtic shouldn’t be losing a Ryan Christie to Bournemouth.

“But they know financially they are a different level completely. So that is the problem you have.”

Celtic have every right to negotiate the best price for one of their top players. The club has previously benefited on the Premier League’s riches, selling Kieran Tierney to Arsenal and Virgil van Dijk to Southampton.

But I completely agree with Grant that it is a problem that these clubs, which are just not as big as Celtic, have the financial strength to come in and seduce our top players with ridiculous contracts and massive transfer prices.

Celtic will lose O’Riley at some point. However, unless he joins a team already in this season’s Champions League group stages, I am confident the Danish international midfielder will stay beyond the summer.

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