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La Liga leaders Girona now ‘strongly interested’ in player Leeds United really wanted to sign in the summer

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Leeds United’s midfield is arguably the position where they have the most depth across the entire squad.

The Whites underwent a midfield revamp in the summer as Ethan Ampadu, Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev all moved to Elland Road, while Archie Gray was also established as a first team player.

However, there was another midfielder that Leeds were desperate to sign in the summer that did not come off, who is now attracting interest from some of the top clubs around Europe.

Leeds made an offer of £10 million to Celtic to sign Matt O’Riley that was swiftly rejected, and it would now appear the ship has sailed for him to move to West Yorkshire, given the teams who are now keen.

According to Sky Sports News, La Liga leaders Girona – who are owned by the City Group – are ‘strongly interested’ in signing him this month following a stellar first half of the season in Scotland.

Girona want to sign Leeds target O’Riley

Girona are currently ahead of both Real Madrid and Barcelona in the race to lift the Spanish league title and see O’Riley as someone who can help them pull off the unthinkable.

However, they are not the only top European team interested in the 23-year-old, with Serie A leaders Inter Milan having been mentioned as a potential destination.

Celtic FC v Feyenoord: Group E - UEFA Champions League 2023/24
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images

Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton and Newcastle United have also been scouting O’Riley, who has 10 goals and 10 assists across all competitions already this season.

O’Riley only signed a new deal at Celtic back in September, but has already admitted he is ready for the next step in his career, and it does not look like he will be short of suitors.

Any club who wishes to sign him, though, will have to make O’Riley Celtic’s club record sale, which currently stands at £25 million when Jota joined Al Ittihad in the summer.