MATT O’RILEY’S stunning form since moving to Celtic in January 2022 has seen him consistently linked with a big-money transfer.
And the Hoops ace has admitted he feels ready to take the next step.
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O’Riley, 22, was a £1.5million signing by Ange Postecoglou from MK Dons almost two years ago.
Plucked from the third tier in England, he quickly became an influential Celtic star.
His form has seen him regularly linked with clubs both down south and in Europe.
Leeds United showed their hand in the summer window just gone but the Hoops were having none of their £10million offer which was swiftly booted out.
Keen to fend-off interest, Celtic signed O’Riley up to a bumper new contract in September that saw him put pen to paper on a deal until 2027.
His form this season has improved even from the heights of the previous campaign, with O’Riley finding a goal scoring touch, striking six times in the Premiership already this season.
But with that form will undoubtedly come continued transfer interest and O’Riley himself has hinted that he could be ready for a move should the opportunity arise.
O’Riley, currently away with the Denmark, was asked by Danish outlet Tipsbladet if he was ready to take the next step.
He said: “I have played in the Champions League against many good teams and I think I am ready (to take the next step).
“But I am already playing for a good team. It is difficult to say what will happen.”
O’Riley has yet to make his senior international debut for Denmark despite much fan clamour in the country for him to be picked.
Having been a late call-up and unused substitute in last month’s qualifier against San Marino, he was once again left out of the squad by boss Kasper Hjulmand.
However, he was added to the squad on Friday and is once again in contention to win his first cap during the matches against Slovenia and Northern Ireland.
For O’Riley, there’s also a personal reason for wanting to make his Denmark debut.
He revealed how he wants his elderly grandmother Lis, 85, who lives in Denmark to see him play for his country.
O’Riley revealed that Lis will be too unwell to attend the match in Copenhagen on Friday, and added: “I try not to think about it too much, but my 85-year-old grandmother likes to read about it very much and she watches every game I play for Celtic.
“She has been to the stadium, but she watches most matches on TV because she lives in Horsens. She’s sick enough – she’s on Twitter every single day and just scroll, scroll, scroll.
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“She doesn’t have much time left, so it will be great if I make my debut while she is alive. I hope I get to play while she can still see it.”
Denmark are on the cusp of Euro 2024 qualification and could secure their place this coming week.
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