Matt O’Riley ‘will leave’ and Celtic to sign top-class replacement – Hutton

Matt O’Riley “will leave” Celtic this month and the club are exploring the market to bring in a blue-chip replacement.

 

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, ex-Scotland international Alan Hutton admits “it wouldn’t surprise him” if the Scottish Champions complete a top signing in addition to recently-captured Paulo Bernardo.

Brighton are keen on O’Riley and are preparing a part-exchange bid could include Shea Charles going the opposite way.

 

O’Riley has been a revelation at Celtic since joining from League One MK Dons back in 2021. Last season the midfielder managed to score 19 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions.

Celtic have recently signed Portuguese midfielder Bernardo on a permanent basis after impressing on loan last season.

 

Celtic will need to sign Matt O’Riley replacement

“I think Celtic have gotten used to, in recent years, letting their top players go for big money and I think they’re quite happy with that”, Hutton told Football Insider.

“You can go back a few years, they had Jota not so long ago, Odsonne Edouard, and even Keiran Tierney.

“These players were fan favourites but there has come a time when big money offers have come in and they’ve sold them on to re-invest the money back in the squad.

“100 per cent I do believe O’Riley will leave for big money, I think that may be why they brought (Paulo) Bernardo back, we saw enough of him last season to know that he can step into that midfield and be a top player.

“He (Bernardo) could be key for them next season but it wouldn’t surprise me if they went into the market and brought in somebody else.

 

“Brendan Rogers likes to have that strength in depth in the squad so he can rotate if need be, so I do expect one or two others to come in before the end of the transfer window.”