Chelsea are the latest Premier League side taking a look at Matt O'Riley, according to a report in the UK.
The Celtic midfielder, who has established himself as a key cog for Brendan Rodgers' side since arriving from MK Dons in January 2022, has become a sought-after player this summer following a standout season where he netted 19 goals and provided 15 assists, marking his most productive campaign to date.
This impressive performance has attracted interest from various clubs in England, as well as Atletico Madrid, who previously had an offer rejected in January.
Recently, Southampton, managed by Russell Martin—who was O'Riley's coach at MK Dons—has shown the most interest. Reports suggest that the newly-promoted side is preparing an initial bid of £20 million plus add-ons ($25.6m), but Celtic is holding out for a Scottish record transfer fee exceeding £25 million ($32m) for O’Riley, who is contracted to the Hoops until 2027.
Leicester City is also in the mix, looking to replace Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after his £30 million ($38.5m) transfer to Chelsea. They view O'Riley as an ideal candidate to fill that role, given his ability to contribute both goals and assists. It's reported that Leicester will need to stretch their budget to finalize a deal with Celtic.
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According to The Sun, Chelsea have now joined the Celtic star's growing list of suitors, seeing O'Riley as a potential replacement for Conor Gallagher, with the England midfielder set to leave after turning down a two-year extension to stay put at Stamford Bridge.