Southampton’s pursuit of Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley has taken a significant blow, with renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano revealing that the player is leaning towards joining Serie A club Atalanta instead. The Saints, who have had a successful season following their promotion to the Premier League, have been active in the transfer market, completing eight permanent signings, including the return of former player Adam Lallana and the acquisition of Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Manchester City.
Despite their efforts to strengthen the squad, Southampton now face strong competition from Atalanta for O’Riley’s signature. Romano suggests that the Celtic midfielder is keen on a potential move to the Italian side, who are preparing for Champions League football next season after winning the Europa League.
Atalanta’s interest in O’Riley comes at a time when the player’s stock is on the rise, having impressed in the Scottish Premiership and even earning a senior debut for Denmark last year. The 23-year-old, who started his career in Fulham’s youth ranks, has shown great potential since joining Celtic, leading to interest from clubs across Europe.
While Southampton had reportedly made concrete moves to secure O’Riley, it appears that the player’s preference is now leaning towards a move to Atalanta. The Saints will need to act quickly if they want to secure the midfielder’s services, with Romano suggesting that a deal could be finalized in the coming days.
As the transfer saga unfolds, Southampton will be hoping to convince O’Riley to reconsider his decision and join them for their upcoming Premier League campaign. However, with Atalanta’s Champions League ambitions and the player’s own aspirations in mind, the road ahead for Southampton in their pursuit of O’Riley may prove to be a challenging one.
