Southampton have made their opening bid for a player Russell Martin is keen to sign, but a deal could be ‘tricky’.
Russell Martin will have spent the off-season identifying the areas of his Southampton squad he needs to improve this summer.
The free signing of veteran Adam Lallana is an astute piece of business but he is so far the only new arrival at St Mary’s; Taylor Harwood-Bellis signing permanently but having spent last season on loan at the club.
So far this summer Southampton’s focus has been on trying to sign Premier League experience for free, with Saman Ghoddos, Charlie Taylor and Bobby De Cordova-Reid all anticipated to join.
However, the Saints have now made made a more ambitious move with an opening bid for Celtic’s Matt O’Riley, but one element of the deal could prove difficult.
Southampton have made £20 million bid for Matt O’Riley
Martin worked with O’Riley in his first managerial job at MK Dons, with the Denmark international signing for Celtic for just £1.5 million in January 2022.
He has gone from strength to strength north of the border and Martin has kept a close eye on the 23-year-old’s development.
Now that Southampton are in the Premier League, Martin is looking to set up a reunion for the player Celtic are said to value at £30 million.
Southampton have acted by reportedly submitting a bid of £20 million which includes performance related add-ons.
Matt O’Riley wage demands could make Southampton deal ‘tricky’
Southampton have had success shopping at Celtic in the past, with Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama, Fraser Forster and Stuart Armstrong all swapping Celtic Park for St Mary’s in recent memory.
Whilst the two clubs currently differ on their valuations of O’Riley, this is not likely to be the problem with any potential deal.
That is according to Southampton reporter Alfie House, who posted on ‘X’: ‘Saints and Russell Martin want to sign Matt O’Riley this summer but there is lots of work to do if that is to happen.
Understand personal terms likely the tricky part – the 23-year-old wants a bigger wage. Agreeing fee with Celtic possible.
Some hope there still. Let’s see’.
Fresh off the back of a season in which he provided 37 goal contributions in 49 games in all competitions, it is not difficult to see why Celtic value O’Riley so highly.
However, if Southampton can meet Celtic in the middle they may be able to convince the Glasgow club to sell.
It will then be a case of the Saints persuading the player himself and perhaps, if he is Martin’s prime target, they should go all out for his signature.
