Exclusive info on Leicester’s Matt O’Riley transfer pursuit

Although, we of course have no idea of the calibre of competition we shall face or the ferocity of that interest. All that matters is to identify whether the midfielder can fill the Tielemans-sized hole incoming and how to fund the deal in our current financial situation.

Of a final note, Leicester City have to weigh up what the possible cost and reward of the signing will be. Intangibly, the rewards could be massive: a technically gifted and already experienced player with a winning mentality is just what we need to replace the Belgian ‘Starman’. However, little is known of the costs.

"“They [Celtic] do not have a price tag set for now”"

We know how much Celtic paid for Matt O’Riley. We know how important he is to them. We know what the potential future value of the player is. So, what should be his current value? Well, it would seem even Glasgow does not know: the 21-year-old has not been there long enough to seriously consider selling or setting a value already.

Plus, as they do not wish to sell, it would likely be up to the King Power side to set the bar. It is up to the competition for the signature, the perceived value, and the hardball nature of any such talks. We will almost definitely pay over the odds.

Nevertheless, the deal could be worth it, and a refresh is certainly required. Let’s hope some of these difficulties can be overcome in time for a January move. A little optimism and energy would be nice to have in the supporter base.