‘I was speaking to someone at Leeds’: Manager says 49ers were ‘really heavy’ on Champions League playmaker

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Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon says he was told by someone at Leeds United how keen they were to sign Matt O’Riley.

Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of Celtic’s Champions League defeat to Lazio on Wednesday, Lennon claimed that Leeds were ‘really heavy’ on signing him in the summer.

As per Sky Sports, Leeds had a £10 million bid rejected for O’Riley during the final two weeks of the window as they set their sights on a number of midfielders.

O’Riley was someone San Francisco 49ers Enterprises were clearly willing to spend heavily on which is reflected in Lennon’s latest comments regarding Leeds’ interest.

The 22-year-old has since gone onto sign a new deal at Celtic which will almost certainly end any faint hopes Leeds had of signing him in January.

Lennon told Leeds ‘were really heavy’ on O’Riley

Following an excellent start to the season individually for Celtic, Lennon explained how he was told by someone at Leeds just how much they wanted to sign him in the summer.

He said: “I think he’s had a great start to the season. He’s really blossomed. This is his third season now and every week, looking at him now, he’s always on the scoresheet. He was a target for a number of clubs and I was speaking to someone at Leeds and they were really heavy on him.

“But now he’s on a long-term contract he’s settling down now. He’s playing at the highest level and we’re seeing the best of him now.”

O’Riley would’ve been a brilliant signing for Leeds and clearly those behind-the-scenes did everything they could to try bring him to Elland Road.

After signing his new deal, it is unlikely Leeds will have any chance of signing him unless they win promotion back to the Premier League.

Leeds still lack goals and creativity from midfield which is something O’Riley would’ve certainly provided, meaning it is a shame he did not come.