Southampton are not giving up on their pursuit of Celtic star Matt O’Riley as Russell Martin continues to target a deal.
Russell Martin will be happy with how his Southampton squad have started pre-season, with youth stars Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw standing out in both friendly wins so far.
With six of his seven summer signings – the seventh being Adam Lallana – having already got minutes under their belt in either the win over Eastleigh, Bordeaux, or both, Martin has enjoyed a productive start to the summer.
However, the Southampton boss is in no mood to see the summer spending come to an end anytime soon and is looking to secure a marquee signing in the form of Celtic attacking midfielder Matt O’Riley.
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The Saints have made their intentions clear with a bid for the Dane but have now been told Celtic’s demands in no uncertain terms.
Southampton have £14m Matt O’Riley bid rejected by Celtic
Southampton have been clever with their business so far, securing Lallana and Charlie Taylor for free, Ronnie Edwards and Nathan Wood for £3 million each and Yukinari Sugawara for £5.88 million.
The only two signings that have seen the club part with sizeable fees is the permanent captures of last season’s loan duo Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes for £20 million and £18 million respectively.
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The business so far should mean Martin can afford to shop in more expensive markets for an attacking midfielder and striker, but that has not stopped the club trying to secure a cut-price deal for O’Riley.
That is according to The Scottish Sun, who report that Southampton have ‘had a £14 million-plus bid for Matt O’Riley rejected’.
The report goes on to state that the offer was worth ‘an initial £14 million with the promise of add-ons’ but did not specify how much the deal would total once everything was taken into account.
Celtic are ‘in no rush to sell’ and are said to ‘want a lot more’ for O’Riley with the club expected to demands as much as £25 million for the 23-year-old.
Southampton must go all out to sign O’Riley this summer
Whilst they may be resigned to having to sell O’Riley behind closed doors, Celtic are in the privileged position of knowing that Southampton are not the only club interested in their asset.
Europa League champions Atalanta are also in the race, whilst a number of Premier League clubs have O’Riley on their radar.
Southampton desperately need an attacking midfielder this summer who can come in and provide goals and assists to help their bid to stay in the Premier League.
With a remarkable 37 goals contributions last season O’Riley has shown he can be that player and the fact Martin has worked with the player previously at MK Dons could help give Southampton the edge this summer.
£25 million would break not only the Scottish transfer record but Southampton’s too, but O’Riley could just be worth it.