Brendan Rodgers discusses Matt O’Riley’s immediate Celtic future

The Danish internationalist, 23, oozed class as soon as once more as Celtic received their Scottish Premiership title defence off to a triumphant begin by defeating Kilmarnock 4-0 on house soil. 

O’Riley has been the topic of bids from Atalanta in Serie A and now Chelsea, who Rodgers’ facet beat throughout pre-season, are additionally believed to be contemplating a swoop earlier than the August 30 deadline.

The Celtic boss believes his star midfielder is aware of how a lot he is valued on the membership and he is presently thriving in a group that may solely enhance him as a participant, however did not rule out an eventual parting of how this month. 

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“We’re fairly calm on that,” Rodgers informed BBC Scotland. “Yeah, there’s been gives for him however nowhere close to the valuation of the participant himself.

“He is simply persevering with to work on daily basis, and like I mentioned, he understands the place it is at.

“However for those who see his efficiency stage throughout pre-season and right here immediately, he is very targeted on serving to the group, very targeted on enhancing as a participant, and he is aware of he is in an incredible place to do this. 

“Till that adjustments then we are going to proceed to work with Matt to assist enhance his sport.” 

Requested how a lot of a bonus it will be if Celtic may retain their prized asset forward of their upcoming Champions League marketing campaign, Rodgers continued: “I’d love for one, Matt to be right here. But additionally two, to have extra instruments to present it an actual go on the Champions League. 

“It is considered one of our large targets this season We need to see if we are able to get into these play-off phases and for that clearly with so many video games, so many challenges on this season for us, we need to enhance the squad. 

“So, for Matt and different gamers, completely that is our problem over these subsequent three and a half weeks to hopefully get tooled as much as have one of the best alternative we are able to.”

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Celtic are brief in numbers up entrance, with Kyogo Furuhashi presently the one senior choice. 

Rodgers has been desirous to convey Adam Idah, who fired the Hoops to Scottish Cup success final season, again to the membership. The striker was booed as he got here off the bench for Norwich Metropolis on Saturday and admittedly would love a return to Glasgow. 

Nevertheless, negotiations proceed to drag on. 

“He is a Norwich participant so I’ve received nothing so as to add to that,” Rodgers said. 

“However I believed Kyogo was excellent immediately. He was unlucky to not get a penalty. I do not know why he hasn’t as a result of he was onside and the keeper has introduced him down – and you’ll’t say that he wasn’t going to get the ball as a result of the recovering defender received the ball.

“However he deserved a objective. A few of his hyperlink up play and his motion in behind have been sensational, so I am actually happy for him and the 4 targets general.”