Brendan Rodgers: Celtic want to keep Matt O'Riley and clubs need to match his valuation

Brendan Rodgers has praised Matt O’Riley’s commitment amid speculation over his future, and stressed the midfielder won’t be sold unless Celtic’s valuation is met.

O’Riley’s stock has risen rapidly after two-and-a-half seasons of success with Celtic and he has been linked with clubs across Europe this summer.

Brighton and Atalanta are among the clubs reported to have targeted the Denmark international, with a suggestion a club record fee would needed to secure his signature.

Rodgers acknowledged the talk around the midfielder but stressed that the club wanted to keep him. The Celtic boss he said that he had spoken to his players in general about handling the uncertainties of the transfer window and that O’Riley’s application and attitude had been exemplary.

“We can only keep our focus on the game ahead and the next training session,” Rodgers said. “Thankfully the players here have been absolutely brilliant.

“The behaviour and everything, and the respect shown to what we are trying to do is brilliant, even though there have been bids put in.

“For the likes of Matt, he’s been absolutely fantastic. Some people might say that, you know, you have to be ‘not nice’ to get a move. That’s not really the case.

“He’s a good guy and his training is exemplary.

“If a club meets the valuation that our club thinks that he can go then that will happen.

“But I’ve said, and I will repeat, the value of the player would have to be matched before the club could even consider it.”

Asked if a there was a target lined up to replace O’Riley if a bid was accepted, the manager said being prepared was important but that his ideal would be to keep the player.

“Part of improving our squad is getting other players of quality in,” Rodgers said. “So you always have to be ready and be braced for that. It can’t be a surprise.

“We don’t want Matt to go, that’s first and foremost. I know the club’s model and there’s absolutely no rush to move Matt. We would love him to stay and I can see in him that he’s really happy.

“But if you have a chance to change the conditions of your life, and the club makes an offer that’s of great value, then of course you have to look at it.”

The Celtic boss said that “God willing” a deal to bring Adam Idah back to the club would be concluded before the transfer deadline along with “one or two” other signings and that there were “gaps in the squad” to be addressed. He also spoke about the importance of strengthening his squad with the right players that would allow the team to meet their ambitions and to improve in Europe.

“I’ve said before that recruitment is vital for success on the football pitch,” he said. “It’s bringing in the players that allow you to elevate the game.

“Especially when you go up the levels and into the Champions League the recruitment of players is crucial.

“In the big clubs if you don’t get it right, you have very little chance to put it right. If you don’t bring in a player that fits your style and is suitable for the football you want to play, to improve that player with very little training time is difficult.

“That’s why you want to get not just a player in but the right player in that can elevate the team’s game and that he’s at a sufficient level that allows you to improve him. That’s absolutely key.

“I’ve said before that I’m looking by the end of the window and that’s when you can judge.

“I know that supporters want to see that team on the pitch, and that’s absolutely right. And as coaches and managers we want to have them to integrate them into the squad and all that.

“But at the end of it, to get to the end of August and have a stronger squad than at the end of last season then it will be a successful window for us.

“But I agree the point that with the point that if you want to have success on the football pitch then you need to recruit as best you can, if you want to improve in European football.”