Celtic have rejected a third offer from Atalanta for in-demand midfielder Matt O’Riley.
The improved offer is understood to have included an upfront payment of £15m, plus add-ons.
Celtic rejected Atalanta’s first bid for O’Riley, before rejecting a £14. 3m plus add-ons bid tabled by the Italian side earlier this week.
Atalanta’s Serie A rivals Juventus and Roma, as well as La Liga side Atlético Madrid, have also expressed interest in the Danish international.
O’Riley scored 19 goals and 18 assists in 49 appearances for Brendan Rodgers’ side last season and captained Celtic in their 4-0 pre-season win over D. C. United in Washington last Sunday.
The 23-year-old is under contract with Celtic until 2027, and the club rejected a £20m offer from Atletico Madrid in January.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Celtic’s friendly against Man City in North Carolina on Wednesday, manager Brendan Rodgers said the club was realistic about speculation about O’Riley’s future, but that there had been no action on a possible transfer.
“There’s no update. We’re pretty relaxed,” Rodgers said. “He works very well, he is very focused and, naturally, when you are a great player and especially a young player as committed and professional as him, he attracts attention.
“He’s running very well and there’s nothing to report.
“People close to Celtic perceive the style that works. Matt has been at the Club for 3 years and has the player he is today.
“He knows the privilege of betting on Celtic and naturally the way it works is that players are given the opportunity to develop. Celtic is a club where you can develop, but you are obliged to do so. It’s a very complicated club to play. “
“With the salaries presented to the players, competing at this level is a real challenge.
“What I saw with Matt is that he is a top-level professional. He is a very humble guy, committed to his craft and knows what he is given here, so we are all quite relaxed.
“Every player has value, but we see him as a very vital player for us and as long as he is here we will continue to expand and improve him. “
The 2024 summer move-in window is now open and will be Aug. 30 at 11 p. m. British time in England and 11:30 p. m. in Scotland.
The Premier League and the Scottish Premiership have brought forward the deadline to identify links with Europe’s top leagues. Deadlines have been set after talks with leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
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