Matt O’Riley’s fate at Celtic and Liel Abada transfer news

Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley is set to remain at Parkhead beyond the end of the winter transfer window.

Celtic star Matt O’Riley will not leave Parkhead before the winter window closes, despite a ‘exciting’ opportunity to join Girona, but transfer insider Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that a summer exit is possible.

Although Nicolas Kuhn became the Bhoys’ first signing of 2024 after joining from Rapid Vienna for £3 million last week, manager Brendan Rodgers is looking for more reinforcements as he seeks to maintain his position at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

However, after allowing Yosuke Ideguchi to leave for Vissel Kobe earlier this month, Celtic risk losing another central midfielder before the February 1 deadline, with O’Riley attracting widespread interest.

O’Riley is wanted by La Liga leaders.

Girona are interested in signing O’Riley after watching his performances throughout the season, according to Sky Sports, but they face competition from a La Liga rival and an unnamed Premier League club after putting on a number of impressive displays in Celtic colours.

According to the report, Inter Milan is also interested in the Denmark international, who moved to Glasgow after the Bhoys triggered the £3.5 million release clause in his Milton Keynes Dons contract two years ago, but the Serie A club would need to sanction a departure before entering negotiations.

Celtic are preparing for a big-money bid from surprise La Liga table-toppers Girona, who have strong links to the Scottish Premiership leaders because the Spanish outfit is part of the City Group and head of recruitment. Mark Lawwell previously worked for Manchester City, but Rodgers is desperate to keep O’Riley after his outstanding performance this season.

Although West Ham United have been keeping an eye on the 23-year-old, his current club’s hopes of keeping him at Parkhead may have been boosted by the east Londoners’ close proximity to a loan deal for Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips, reducing the importance of scouring the market for another option in the middle of the park.

Respected reporter Jones recently told GIVEMESPORT that O’Riley is likely to stay loyal to Celtic rather than agitating for a mid-season move, which will be a significant boost for Rodgers as he wants to ensure a push for the Scottish Premiership title is not derailed, but Atletico Madrid has tested their resolve by launching a loan offer with an obligation to buy.

It is understood that the Bhoys are unwilling to sanction the central midfielder’s departure for less than £20 million due to him being one of the first names on the team sheet and a firm fan favourite, but fans are already planning to up the ante with formal bids in the summer.

Dean Jones-O’Riley needs to make a key decision about his future.

Although Jones understands that Celtic will not consider offloading O’Riley before the transfer window closes, he has refused to rule out the possibility of a deal being completed at the end of the season, as numerous clubs clamour for his services.

The reputable journalist believes the former Fulham youngster must decide whether he wants to challenge himself in different environments, as he will have opportunities to play in the Premier League or move abroad in the coming months, while the chance to join Girona in an unexpected La Liga title race is appealing.

Jones told GiveMeSport:

“I’m told that he won’t be leaving Celtic in this transfer window. If O’Riley does leave Celtic, and there is potential for that to happen, it will be in the summer.

“He will have a lot of options on the table this summer, both in the Premier League and abroad. I think he needs to make a clear decision on that.

“At the moment, from what I’m told, he really wants to focus on what he is doing at Celtic. He loves being there. I don’t think this is a case of the player looking to actually move anywhere else. It’s just that he has got a lot of interest that he has to consider.

“Obviously, Girona is quite an exciting one at the moment because they are top of La Liga.”

Abada is wanted on loan by several clubs.

According to MailOnline, Liel Abada has emerged as a loan target for Championship clubs Southampton, West Bromwich Albion, and Watford, while clubs in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga are also prepared to step up their pursuit if it is revealed that Celtic are willing to negotiate a short-term deal.

According to the report, the Israeli international, who has only made eight appearances this season due to injury, has faced sustained pressure from his homeland to leave Parkhead due to pro-Palestinian sentiment among some of the Bhoys’ fans, leaving him in a difficult situation.

Celtic are in a strong negotiating position because Abada only committed his long-term future to the club a few months ago, signing a four-year contract amid high interest in his services in September, complicating matters for his suitors as the February 1 deadline approaches.

Reacting to the winger agreeing to new terms in Glasgow, transfer insider Jones told GIVEMESPORT that the move was a ‘big plus’ for the Bhoys, who wanted to ensure his head was not turned by speculation about a potential exit.

Celtic is said to have persuaded Abada to sign after turning down a £7 million bid from Portuguese heavyweights Sporting in the final stages of the summer transfer window, but he has remained in demand despite his injuries.

In other news, Reporter warns of a pottential bid war to sign Matt O’Riley.