Why £4m World Cup star may very well be the second coming of Matt O’Riley at Celtic

Celtic look set to be available in the market so as to add a brand new central midfielder to their squad earlier than the summer time switch window slams shut in the beginning of September.

Japan worldwide Reo Hatate has advised the membership that he wish to discover a possible transfer away from Parkhead to strive a brand new journey elsewhere.

He was not as efficient final season as he was within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, as he went from scoring 11 targets in 47 video games to 5 targets in 39 matches for the Hoops.

Celtic have to discover a extra constant goalscoring contributor from midfield like they as soon as had with Matt O’Riley, who scored 18 targets within the Scottish Premiership within the 2023/24 season.

How Celtic turned Matt O’Riley right into a aim machine

The Denmark worldwide ended his profession at Parkhead as a participant who supplied a constant menace in entrance of aim as a scorer, however that was not at all times the case for him in Glasgow.

O’Riley solely scored seven targets in his first 54 appearances within the Premiership for the Hoops, as he was utilized in extra of a box-to-box function to create probabilities for the ahead gamers.

Underneath Rodgers, although, he had a better quantity of touches within the attacking third of the pitch in central positions, quite than out broad, which supplied him with extra alternatives to take photographs and rating targets to win matches for Celtic.

The arrival of the Northern Irish head coach helped the Danish midfielder to flourish as a goalscorer due to the change in model to make him extra influential on the ball within the ultimate third.

His development beneath Rodgers then led to Premier League aspect Brighton & Hove Albion swooping in to signal him for a mouth-watering payment of £25m in the summertime of 2024.

Celtic eyeing transfer to signal their subsequent Matt O’Riley

Forward of the 2026/27 marketing campaign, Martin O’Neill must discover a potential substitute for Hatate who can provide the constant goalscoring menace that O’Riley as soon as supplied in the course of the park.

Now, journalist Mark Hendry stories that Celtic are enthusiastic about a deal to signal Al Ahly central midfielder Emam Ashour in the summertime switch window.

The reporter claims that the Hoops are retaining tabs on the midfield star’s state of affairs and that they’ve been advised {that a} bid of £4m can be sufficient to agree a deal for his companies.

Nevertheless, it now stays to be seen whether or not or not the Premiership giants are ready to pay that quantity to carry him to Parkhead this summer time.

Celtic’s curiosity within the 28-year-old expertise comes off the again of his return of two targets in 5 matches on the World Cup for Egypt, scoring targets in opposition to Belgium and Australia.

He showcased his goalscoring high quality from a central midfield place on the world stage for his nation, which means that his performances may carry over to Scottish soccer.

Ashour’s type for Al Ahly at membership stage additionally means that he may very well be the membership’s subsequent model of O’Riley and a greater possibility than Hatate for O’Neill within the 2026/27 marketing campaign and past.

The Egypt worldwide scored 11 targets in 43 appearances in all competitions within the 2023/24 marketing campaign earlier than scoring 19 targets in 37 matches within the following season.

Accidents restricted him to 2 targets in 19 video games within the 2025/26 season, sadly, however his performances for Egypt and his earlier type for Al Ahly exhibits that he may be the brand new O’Riley at Parkhead.

He has constantly confirmed himself to be a menace on the high finish of the pitch from midfield, scoring targets regularly, and that’s what Celtic want to exchange Hatate, ought to he transfer on from Glasgow earlier than the tip of the window.

That’s the reason the Scottish giants should now push to safe a deal for the £4m-rated star within the coming weeks in order that they will safe O’Neill his personal model of O’Riley.