Leeds may have missed golden chance to sign 22-year-old midfielder, now worth over £25m

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Wednesday saw Parkhead house a stunning atmosphere as Matt O’Riley starred for Brendan Rodgers’ side during a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid – a stark reminder Leeds missed a golden opportunity.

O’Riley, 22, has starred for Celtic since Ange Postecoglou took him to Glasgow from MK Dons back in January 2022. He had impressed until this season, but this term, has seen O’Riley go up another level.

Playing 13 times, he has had a hand in 10 goals – scoring six goals and laying on four assists. This week, O’Riley’s genius opened the scoring for Celtic. His gorgeous first-time pass, finding Kyogo to score.

A brilliant result for Celtic and in the immediate aftermath, as Fabrizio Romano often does, he took to Twitter to state if Celtic were to cash in on O’Riley – it would take a Scottish record sale. North, of £25m.

Indeed, Jota and Kieran Tierney share that record currently, both leaving Celtic to join Al-Ittihad and Arsenal respectively for fees of £25m. Now, Celtic are demanding a fee north of that to sell O’Riley.

Matt O’Riley now reminds Leeds missed a golden opportunity

That comes after Sky Sports reported Leeds tabled a bid of £10m to sign O’Riley in the summer, duly rejected. A move that has benefitted Celtic. Not least, because he is shining on the pitch right now.

But also, because they will now be able to sell him for a whole lot more. In the summer, perhaps a fee slightly north of the £10m offer Leeds tabled, might have made Celtic think about a potential transfer.

Now, with his form resulting in Celtic wanting a record fee north of £25m, Leeds have missed that opportunity. A figure out of our reach. A golden chance to sign a game changer, now gone.