Who is Matt O'Riley? Man Utd's transfer target shining for Celtic

Stuart Telford

Updated: 4 Jan 2023 08:23 GMT
4 min read

Matt O'Riley in action for Celtic. — © ProShots

Manchester United are looking to bolster their midfield with reports linking them with a move for Celtic's Denmark under-21 midfielder Matt O'Riley.

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Denmark?! That's right, the Danes have stolen a march on the former England youth international, who qualifies through his mother.

A Fulham youth academy graduate, O'Riley joined Celtic from MK Dons for just £1.5m/€1.8m in January, but his impact has been so swift at Parkhead that the Scottish champions could already be set to cash in for more than 10 times that fee already.

O'Riley scored three goals and assisted two more in just 12 games in the second half of last season as Celtic took the Scottish Premiership title back off Rangers, and he already has three assists in just five games this term.

United may have added Casemiro and Christian Eriksen to their midfield ranks which already boast Bruno Fernandes this summer, but O'Riley could provide some welcome competition, and he has the best of his career ahead of him.

⚽️ @mattoriley8 gets the goal his game deserves.

Greg Taylor stands a cross up to the back post and O'Riley controls well before passing it into the bottom left corner.🍀⤵️pic.twitter.com/EZDikFsGpj
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 7, 2022

What position does O'Riley play in?

O'Riley is a 6'2" midfielder who can play centrally when required but would rather line up on either side of a midfield pivot, leaving the defensive dirty work to colleagues like Casemiro.

Primarily left-footed, O'Riley is more than capable with his right, making it difficult for opposition defenders to show him onto his weaker side.

O'Riley's goal involvement is improving, but he is more likely to be found making the pass before the pass. United will be signing him with Eriksen's age in mind.

How good is Matt O'Riley?

Good enough to generate an international tug-of-war for his services. In the same generation as Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden, O'Riley was England teammates with those two who now star either side of the Manchester divide.

After five appearances with the young Lions, Denmark approached him in March, two months after his move to Celtic, and he has now played for them four times. A move to Old Trafford might prick up Gareth Southgate's ears, and indeed Norway's whom he also qualifies for.

O'Riley is not the fastest runner, but he has an extra yard in his head, with his quick and incisive distribution taking multiple opponents out at once.

Paul Scholes and Teddy Sheringham weren't the quickest players ever to turn out for United. Both won Champions Leagues in their time at Old Trafford.

What clubs are interested in O'Riley?

While Man Utd are now at the front of the queue to sign O'Riley, Liverpool and Arsenal have also been credited with an interest among Premier League clubs, while Borussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg and Lille are those on the continent tracking his progress.

A West London boy, Fulham have likely missed a trick in letting him leave on a free for MK Dons in late 2020. Their neighbours Chelsea could do worse than sign him with N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic injured.