‘He could have left’: Manager now says he would’ve sold player on one condition, Leeds bid £10m in August

Add as preferred source on Google

Brendan Rodgers says he would’ve let Leeds United target Matt O’Riley leave in the summer had he expressed a desire to leave.

Rodgers was speaking to the media, via the Scottish Sun, ahead of Celtic’s trip to Motherwell this weekend, where he discussed the future of O’Riley.

As per Sky Sports, Leeds had a £10 million bid rejected for O’Riley during the final two weeks of the window as they pursued a number of midfield targets.

Leeds instead ended up signing both Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev for a combined fee of what they paid for O’Riley, who is now in talks with Celtic over a new deal.

However, according to Sky Sports, if a contract is not signed by January, clubs from across Europe could make a move when the window reopens, though it remains to be seen if Leeds do the same.

Rodgers would’ve let O’Riley leave on one condition

Speaking in detail on the future of O’Riley, Rodgers says he was reluctant to let him leave in the summer due to the players he had already lost.

However, had O’Riley told him of his wish to move on, Rodgers says he would’ve allowed the midfielder to depart, but it is something that never happened.

He said: “It was an open conversation, and that’s what I’ve always had here with Michael Nicholson and the guys. I didn’t think we could afford to lose another starter and the club were very supportive on that. They were great.

“We had obviously lost Carl Starfelt and lost Jota, and we knew Cameron Carter-Vickers was going to be out for a while. I didn’t feel we could lose another one. But of course, that’s all on the player as well. If the player really wants to move, then I’m also a believer that if he doesn’t want to be here then don’t be here.

“I’ve got experience of that where you think you can keep them for another year. But they are not the same player if they really want to go. I never got that feeling at all from Matt. He is investing his time in development.

“He could have left here. With the greatest respect, he could have earned significantly more money by leaving. But that is not everything for him.”

O’Riley certainly remains a player Leeds should be keeping a close eye on with midfield creativity still something that is somewhat lacking in the squad.

With four goals and two assists in six matches this season, O’Riley has enjoyed a great start to the season and it feels like only a matter of time before he departs Scotland.