West Ham United face £25m development in hunt to sign Celtic star Matt O’Riley
West Ham United have learnt Celtic are slapping a £25million price tag on attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley, according to The Scottish Sun.
The report by Alan Nixon [1 June] outlines that the Scottish double winners are standing firm as they anticipate interest in their hotshot Denmark star, who clocked up 31 goal contributions in 37 Scottish Premiership games in the most recent season.
West Ham’s interest has been public [HITC] in the early stages of the summer off-season, with Premier League rivals also tracking the 23-year-old.
Nixon said: “O’Riley could go for a record Scottish transfer fee of over £25million as interest mounts.
“[As well as Southampton], Brighton, West Ham and Everton are among the other English top-flight clubs to run the rule over O’Riley recently.”
Matt O’Riley monitored by West Ham United
As soon as O’Riley began firing on all cylinders last season, Celtic would have known to expect the development of a transfer battle.
The midfielder is playing the best football of his career so far at Celtic Park and was instrumental in securing green ribbons on the two major Scottish trophies in 2023-24.
Hammers technical director Tim Steidten has spent recent days out in Brazil to attempt to complete several incoming deals to provide Julen Lopetegui with a host of new recruits.
O’Riley could be another one of them, and having only been named on Denmark’s stand-by list of Euro 2024 players, he may be tempted by a Premier League switch.
Having previously worked with Russell Martin at MK Dons, the player may seem more attracted to a Southampton proposal, but a lucrative offer from London Stadium may just swing it.
In other West Ham news, Frank McAvennie has named a midfielder he would like the club to explore signing.
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