Report: West Ham in Negotiations to Sign “Phenomenal” Star as Steidten Eyes Third Summer Acquisition

Matt O’Riley’s stellar season for Celtic has sparked significant interest from other clubs, with West Ham United reportedly eyeing a move for the midfielder. Southampton has already made attempts to sign O’Riley but failed, and now West Ham has entered the fray, according to reports.

O’Riley enjoyed one of the most remarkable seasons in Scottish Premiership history, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists from central midfield under Brendan Rodgers. This performance helped Celtic secure the title over their rivals, Rangers. However, this success has attracted attention from the Premier League, with West Ham, among other clubs, engaging in talks to secure his services, as reported by HITC.

Southampton’s £20 million bid for O’Riley fell short of Celtic’s valuation, as the Hoops are reportedly demanding £30 million. This has led to interest from other Premier League clubs, including Everton, Fulham, and Brentford, all of whom have initiated discussions with the Celtic star.

Celtic aims to make O’Riley their most expensive departure, surpassing the £25 million fees received for Jota and Kieran Tierney in recent seasons. O’Riley, who joined Celtic for just £1.5 million from MK Dons over two years ago, has quickly become a key player, earning the label of a ‘phenomenal’ Danish international.

HITC notes that Southampton and Celtic are still far apart in their valuations, with the south coast club unwilling to exceed £20 million. Despite this, Celtic’s priority is to retain O’Riley, though they are open to selling him for the right price. Fulham, where O’Riley started his career and made five first-team appearances, is also interested in bringing him back in a potential fairytale return.

O’Riley might be inclined to join West Ham under Julen Lopetegui, should they make an offer, but his familiarity with Southampton’s manager, Russell Martin, could influence his decision. Martin, who previously managed O’Riley at MK Dons and attempted to sign him for Swansea, has praised O’Riley’s mentality and technique, describing him as a top-tier player.

Martin has expressed his admiration for O’Riley, stating: “Wow. What a technician. Myself and my staff left for Swansea and we tried to bring him there. It was a very sad moment for me when the deal we tried to do fell down. But then he went to Celtic and he’s just kept on progressing. And I’m not surprised. It’s his mentality that sets him apart. He’s supremely confident and a super pro; his diet is spot on, and he’s really athletic, more than he is given credit for. He’s got everything to play at the top – for Denmark and in the Premier League.”

Martin clearly sees O’Riley as a valuable long-term signing, but whether a deal can be reached remains uncertain. As the transfer window progresses, it will be interesting to see if O’Riley stays with Celtic or makes a move to the Premier League.